SKOWHEGAN — More than $5,000 in counterfeit money was seized along with methamphetamine and other illegal drugs during a search of a Skowhegan home near the Margaret Chase Smith School, the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office said Wednesday.
Sheriff Dale Lancaster said in a news release that a search warrant was executed Friday afternoon at a residence on Lawton Street, which extends from North Avenue just north of downtown. Investigators with the sheriff’s office were joined in the search by a Skowhegan police officer and they found the counterfeit cash, 5 ounces of crystal methamphetamine, “a small amount” of fentanyl, digital scales and other material, Lancaster said.
The counterfeit bills were turned over to the U.S. Secret Service for further investigation. The street value of the drugs was estimated at $14,000.
James Mack, 39, and Ashley Bowman, 33, both of Skowhegan, were each charged with aggravated trafficking in scheduled drugs and possession of scheduled drugs. Lancaster said the trafficking charge is aggravated “due to the amount of the drugs seized and the residence being within 1,000 feet of the Margaret Chase Smith School.”
Mack has a prior drug trafficking conviction, the sheriff said.
Mack was arrested Friday while Bowman was not taken into custody and instead was just charged in the matter, Lancaster said.
Mack’s bail was set at $10,000 cash.
Additional charges could be filed after prosecutors review the case, Lancaster said.
Mack and Bowman are scheduled to make an initial court appearance in Skowhegan on June 15.
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