Drug bust at Sanford home nabs major trafficker, five others

SANFORD, Maine - A "high risk" multi agency search warrant was executed at a Sanford drug house on Tuesday resulting in the arrest of a Sanford man on aggravated drug trafficking charges.

John Leroy Gray 44, of 8 York St, Sanford, was taken into custody on two counts of fentanyl trafficking. His bail was set at $25,000 cash.

A significant amount of fentanyl and drug proceeds were seized during the raid, which resulted in the arrest of five others including a Dover, N.H., woman on unrelated charges.

The Maine Drug Enforcement Agency and Sanford Police said the elevated risk search warrant was executed in order to safely effect the bust, during which a significant amounts of fentanyl and drug proceeds were seized. An additional five people were arrested for outstanding arrest warrants after being present at the search warrant residence including.

Patrick Bachelor 48, of Sanford, for Failing to Appear in Court, Bail $100

Katie Boyatsis 28, of Dover, for Possession of Schedule Drugs, Probation Revocation. No Bail

Jessica Taylor 40, of Shapleigh, for 3 warrants charging Failing to Appear in Court, Theft, Violation of Conditional Release. Bail $600

Tyler Cann 32, of Sanford for warrant charging Failure to Appear in Court. Bail to be set.

Marissa Tomarchio, 28, of Sanford, for Failing to Appear in Court, Bail $250

For the past month, responding to citizen complaints and tips from community members, agents from the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency (MDEA) York District Task Force and officers of the Sanford Police Department conducted an investigation into illegal drug trafficking from 8 York St. During the investigation, agents and officers observed activity consistent with illegal drug trafficking as well as individuals trafficking illegal drugs being armed with firearms, according to Maine Dept. of Safety spokesperson Shannon Moss.

During the investigation a number of undercover purchases of fentanyl were made from Gray who lives at the York Street home.

On Tuesday around 9:30 a.m., the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency and Sanford Police executed a search warrant in the single-family home in order to arrest Gray for felony arrest warrants for drug trafficking.

Due to the seriousness of the drug trafficking charges, suspected firearms possession, and safety concerns for the neighborhood residents and officers, the Southern Maine Special Response Team assisted in tactically rendering the residence safe and secure for agents.

The Special Response Team encountered and detained 17 people throughout the residence, including Gray who was arrested without incident.

All people encountered at the residence were identified and released at the scene with the exception of the six listed arrests who had outstanding arrest warrants. All arrests were transported to the York County Jail.

A search of the residence resulted in the seizures of some 40 grams of fentanyl, $1,800 in suspected drug proceeds, and additional evidence of illegal drug trafficking. Four realistic style pellet type handguns were located throughout the residence; however, no actual firearms were located.

Assisting agents in this investigation and search warrant were members of the Sanford Police Department, Sanford Fire/Rescue, Sanford Police Animal Control, York County Sheriff's Office, FBI Safe Street Task Force, Federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Southern Maine Special Response Team, City of Sanford Code Enforcement.