LEWISTON – Five people were arrested by federal investigators Wednesday morning and charged with distributing crack cocaine in Lewiston.

Local, state and federal police swept through the downtown just before sunrise Wednesday, making arrests after an investigation involving half a dozen agencies.

Charged with distribution of crack cocaine were: Sylas “Cali” Way, 44, Elijah Blake, 26, Keon Baptiste-Harris, 35, Jamie Perry, 46, and Davontae “Royale” Perrybrooks, 26.

Each of them lists a Lewiston address, although police say they are known to have out-of-state connections.

The five were taken into federal custody and made initial appearances Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Portland. Each was being held Wednesday night in federal custody.

The suspects each face up to 20 years in prison, if convicted.

According to court documents, undercover police and confidential informants have been making undercover purchases of crack from the suspects since December, when police say an informant bought $240 worth of crack from Perry on Bradley Street.

Similar undercover buys from the other suspects were made at addresses on Howe, Shawmut and Bates streets, according to the court documents.

Court officials said the investigation involved Lewiston and Maine State Police, the FBI’s Southern Maine Gang Task Force, U.S. Marshals Service, Maine Drug Enforcement Agency and federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

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