Three charged with dealing heroin in Rumford-Bethel area

RUMFORD — Three men accused of distributing an estimated 500 doses of heroin each month were arrested after raids by Maine Drug Enforcement agents and local police on homes in Rumford and Bethel this week.

According to a statement released Tuesday by MDEA Commander Scott Pelletier, agents took William Heller, 61, of Rumford, Jason Howe, 26, of Bethel, and David Cherkis, 45, of Greenwood into custody on felony drug trafficking charges.

The trio is accused of being part of a network that was distributing an estimated 500 doses of heroin each month to customers in the River Valley and greater Bethel areas, Pelletier said.

“This ongoing, multi-agency investigation and arrests will likely have a significant impact on the availability of heroin throughout the Rumford-Bethel area,” Pelletier wrote in the release.

Heller and Howe were arrested Monday afternoon when MDEA agents executed search warrants at their homes.

Agents seized more than 300 doses of heroin, money from drug sales and other drug trafficking materials from Heller’s home and another 40 bags of heroin, scales, money and packaging from Howe’s home.

Cherkis was arrested at his Greenwood home Tuesday by MDEA agents, Rumford Police and state Department of Probation and Parole officers. At the time, he was on probation for convictions of assaulting a police officer and drug trafficking, according to Pelletier’s release.

Heller faces one charge of aggravated trafficking of heroin and Howe faces a single charge of trafficking in scheduled drugs. Cherkis faces an aggravated trafficking charge, as well as criminal conspiracy and violation of probation charges.

If convicted, Heller and Cherkis could face a mandatory four-year prison sentence.

MDEA, the Oxford County Sheriff’s Office and Rumford police began the investigation in October 2013 and used months of surveillance and undercover drug purchases to gather the evidence necessary to break up the network, Pelletier said.

Additional charges and more arrests are expected when the case is presented to an Oxford County grand jury later this month, he said.

Howe was released from Oxford County Jail on a $2,500 cash bail Monday afternoon, but Heller and Cherkis remain behind bars. Heller has a $50,000 cash bail and Cherkis is on a probation hold. They are expected to appear in South Paris District Court on Wednesday afternoon.