Three Arrested in Hancock County Heroin Bust

Three people are facing charges in connection with an investigation that netted $100,000 in heroin from Hancock County.

On Monday, drug agents from the MDEA's Downeast District Task Force and Hancock County Sheriff's Deputies stopped a vehicle containing Paul Chiumiento and Aaron Carter along Route 1 in Orland. Both men were taken into custody after they were found to be in possession of heroin.

Immediately after the stop, agents and deputies went to Chiumiento's home on Oak Hill Road in Orland and executed a search warrant. His live-in girlfriend, Hyacinthe Baril, was home at the time. Seized in that search were approximately 400 grams of heroin with an estimated street value of $100,000. The MDEA says this represents one of the most significant single heroin seizures in the State of Maine to date. In addition, approximately 22 pounds of processed marijuana, with a street value of $33,000, was seized, as well as 750 Oxycodone pills, with a street value of $20,000. Also seized were over a dozen firearms and around $40,000 in cash. Agents took two vehicles belonging to Chiumiento, a 2012 Mercedes SUV and a 2015 GMC pickup.

Arrested in connection with this case and currently being held at the Hancock County Jail:

• Paul Chiumiento, age 32 of Orland is charged with class A aggravated trafficking in schedule W drugs (heroin). His bail is set at $200,000 cash.
• Hyacinthe Baril, age 35 of Orland, is charged wtih class A aggravated trafficking in schedule W drugs (heroin). Her bail is set at $100,000 cash.
• Aaron Carter, age 40 of Sedgwick is charged with class C conspiracy to traffic in schedule W drugs (heroin). His bail is set at $75,000 cash.

Sheriff Scott Kane and MDEA Director Roy McKinney say that a significant source of the heroin distributed in Western Hancock County, to include Blue Hill and the peninsula area, has been disrupted as a result of this investigation. This case highlights the importance of inter-agency collaboration in these types of investigations. The Hancock County Sheriff's Department dedicates significant resources to MDEA's enforcement efforts in Downeast Maine.

The MDEA and Hancock County Sheriff's Office were assisted at the scene by the Maine State Police. The agencies will continue to work on this investigation and more arrests are possible. Anyone with information about this investigation or the illegal sale of drugs in this state is urged to contact the MDEA office closest you or by calling the MDEA tip-line at 800-452-6457.