Waldo County woman faces heroin charges

BANGOR – A Waldo County woman arrested Feb. 17 as she and her husband returned from Rhode Island with nearly 1,000 small bags of heroin in their vehicle was indicted Thursday on two drug-related counts by a federal grand jury.

Melissa D. Northup, 42, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin and aiding and abetting the commission of that crime. She also is charged with possession with the intent to distribute heroin and aiding and abetting the commission of that crime.

If convicted, Northup, the mother of a teen-aged son, faces a maximum possible penalty of 60 years in prison, $3 million in fines or both.

Listed on the same indictment is a Rhode Island man from whom Northup allegedly bought a large quantity of heroin on Feb. 16. Anthony Moquete, 22, of Providence, R.I., is charged with the same drug counts as Northup and faces the same possible penalties if convicted.

While Northup has been released on bail and is enrolled in a drug rehabilitation facility, Moquete is detained in jail.

Northup’s husband, James Northup Jr., 35, has been arrested and released on bail. He also is enrolled in a drug rehabilitation facility.

According to a court affidavit, the Northups were suspected for a while of being drug dealers by Waldo County law enforcement officials. Maine State Police arrested them the evening of Feb. 17 in Liberty as they headed home from a trip to Rhode Island. Two children, ages 3 and 9, were in the vehicle. They are believed to be the children of James Northup from a previous relationship. A search of the van revealed 845 bags of heroin and $2,400 in cash. Melissa Northup later told an official she and her husband had traveled to Providence, R.I., Feb. 16 and purchased 20 bricks of heroin. One brick equals 50 bags and sells for $160 wholesale and about $360 retail. A total of $3,200 was paid for the heroin, according to a court affidavit.

Melissa Northup said she and her husband both had used heroin before leaving for Maine. She stated she had used 50 bags of heroin on Feb. 16 and she thought her husband had done the same. The next day they each used 15 bags of heroin.

Also indicted Tuesday was a Skowhegan man charged with stealing dozens of guns from area gun shops. Michael L. Fortin, 20, faces 10 counts of theft from gun shops in Winslow, Skowhegan and Solon. The crimes reportedly occurred in November 2000 and January 2001. Fortin is charged with four counts of theft of firearms from a federal firearms dealer, four counts of possession of stolen firearms, one count of possession of an unregistered machine gun and one count of possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. He faces decades in prison, a half million dollars in fines or both if convicted. Fortin is jailed on state charges.

Also indicted was Francois Gauthier, 31, of Montreal, who is charged with importing the illegal drug Ecstasy into the United States. Gauthier also is charged with making false or fictitious statements to an immigration inspector in Aroostook County, allegedly stating he had never been arrested, charged or imprisoned for breaking any law “whereas in truth … he had previously been convicted of criminal offenses in Canada,” the indictment states.