MDEA Busts Maine Family Of Five For Trafficking And Possession Of Fentanyl & Other Charges

The Maine Drug Enforcement Agency has reported that five members of the same family have been arrested for selling and importing fentanyl in the Mid-Coast.

Public Information Officer, Stephen McCausland, reported that over the past two months, agents from the MDEA Mid-Coast District Task Force, with assistance from the Knox and Lincoln Sheriff's Offices, and Rockland and State Police have been investigating a family selling the drug in Knox County.

During the investigation, agents learned that family members were traveling to New Bedford, Massachusetts several times a week to purchase fentanyl that they would resell in Knox and Lincoln Counties.

Last Friday, MDEA searched the family's two homes in Friendship and Warren.

The house on Harbor Road, in Friendship, is occupied by the Thurston's and the Libby residence is on Depot Street in Warren.

The MDEA seized 20 grams of fentanyl, a handgun, $1800 of suspected drug proceeds and other evidence of drug trafficking.

The five who were arrested were:

Steven Libby, 49, of Warren. He was arrested for aggravated trafficking fentanyl (Class A). His bail is set at $2500 cash. The aggravated charge was due to a prior drug conviction.

Michelle Libby, 47, of Warren. She was arrested for aggravated trafficking fentanyl (Class A). Her bail is set at $1500 cash. The aggravated charge was due to possessing a firearm during the transaction.

Amanda Thurston, 29, of Friendship. She was arrested for trafficking fentanyl. Her bail is set at $1500 unsecured.  

Joseph "Joey" Thurston, 30, of Friendship. He was arrested for conspiracy to traffic fentanyl (Class C). His bail is set at $1500 unsecured.

Ryan Carballo, 34, transient. He was arrested for trafficking fentanyl (Class B) and violating conditions of release. Carballo was on bail for a pending fentanyl trafficking charge.

According to the report, all five were arrested without incident and transported to the Knox County Jail.

The Libby's are the parents of Amanda Thurston and Ryan Carballo is Libby's son-in-law.