Alleged Ringleader in Heroin Distribution Arrested

Two people are facing charges after police found thousands in heroin in the rental car they were traveling in. MDEA agents say they believe the woman is a ringleader in the local distribution business.

Public Safety spokesman Steve McCausland says the arrests were the result of a months-long investigation involving MDEA agents and Skowhegan Police. Agents conducted undercover purchases of heroin from drug sellers.

As the case continued, agents determined the local ringleader of the distribution ring was Kirsten Libby of Skowhegan. McCausland says Libby was traveling often to Massachusetts to obtain heroin for re-sale in Somerset County.

Tuesday morning, MDEA agents and Skowhegan Police stopped Libby's rental car on Route 201 in Skowhegan after learning that she was returning from a trip to Massachusetts. When agents searched her car they found 40 grams of heroin, with a street value of $5,500. Libby's boyfriend was also in the vehicle and so both were taken into custody, charged with selling heroin. They remain at the Somerset County Jail in lieu of bail.

Kirsten Libby, age 26 of Skowhegan is charged with Class A Aggravated Trafficking in Schedule W Drugs (heroin). The charge was elevated to a class A offense because of the weight of the drugs that were seized. Bail was set at $50,000 cash bail. At last report, she remained in jail.

Michael D. Figueroa, age 40 of Methuen, Massachusetts is charged with Aggravated Trafficking in Schedule W Drugs. Bail was set at $100,000. He also remains in jail.

Assisting MDEA in this investigation was Skowhegan and State Police and the Somerset County Sheriff's Office.