United States Drug Enforcement Administration

BANGOR, Maine - A Rochester, New York man was sentenced Oct. 2, 2019 in federal court in Bangor for conspiring to distribute heroin, cocaine base and fentanyl announced DEA New England Division Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle and U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank.

U.S. District Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. sentenced Darrell Newton, a/k/a “Coast,” a/k/a “D-Coast,” 39, to 20 years in prison and five years of supervised release. Newton pleaded guilty in October 2018.

According to court records, between June 2015 and March 2017, Newton ran a drug distribution operation based out of Rochester, New York that operated in central Maine. Individuals from Rochester were sent to central Maine to sell the drugs. They stayed with various local residents who allowed the drugs to be sold from their homes and assisted the Rochester dealers in distributing, storing and transporting the narcotics throughout the region. There were approximately 12–15 such area residences during the height of the conspiracy’s activities. The local residents were paid in cocaine base or heroin for allowing the Rochester dealers to stay in the residences and sell the drugs. Periodically, drug proceeds were collected from the various distribution points in central Maine and transported back to Newton. 

Newton organized and operated the drug trafficking operation from Rochester. He recruited and sent drug dealers from Rochester to central Maine. He also obtained large quantities of heroin, cocaine base and fentanyl that he arranged to be transported to the area by couriers whom he recruited. Once in the area, the Rochester dealers distributed the drugs in cooperation with local dealers. 

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency and the Kennebec County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case, with assistance provided by the Augusta Police Department.