PARIS — Two men accused of dealing heroin pleaded not guilty to a litany of charges Friday morning at Oxford County Superior Court.
Joseph “Rasta” Kabamba, 21, of Mexico, and Bilal “B” Mohammed, 25, of Portland were arrested Sept. 23 and charged with two counts each of unlawful trafficking in heroin and three counts each of conspiracy to commit unlawful trafficking in heroin.
The trafficking charges are Class B crimes; the conspiracy charges are Class C.
Class B crimes are punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine, while Class C crimes are punishable by up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine.
Maine Drug Enforcement Agency agents searched homes at 105, 107 and 109 Chase Ave. in Mexico after a two-month investigation of a large-scale crack cocaine and heroin trafficking ring in the area, according to a statement from Maine Department of Public Safety spokesman Stephen McCausland.
Investigators said Kabamba and Mohammed used local heroin users’ homes and have the users sell heroin and cocaine base for them in exchange for free drugs.
Agents seized about 7 grams of suspected heroin and $8,000 in suspected drug proceeds, as well as other evidence of drug-trafficking, McCausland said.
During their initial appearance on Sept. 26, the state set bail for Kabamba at $75,000 cash. For Mohammed, bail is set at $50,000 cash, or $2,500 and a pretrial service contract.
Active-Retired Justice Robert Clifford said Kabamba would appear in court on May 26 for a conference, while Mohammed’s next conference was scheduled for July.
The men were returned to Two Bridges Jail in Wiscasset.
Joseph Kabamba
Bilal Mohammed
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