Three arrested for trafficking Heroin, Cocaine and illegal forearms possession

Just before midnight, Trooper Michael Leslie assigned to the State Police- Shelburne Falls Barracks, stopped a 2004 Ford Focus on I-91 northbound just prior to the 51.8 mile marker in Bernardston for motor vehicle violations.

As a result of an investigation, the three occupants were found to be in possession of approximately 2,350 bags of heroin, 76 grams of crack cocaine and two loaded firearms; a 9 mm black Berretta with 10 rounds of ammunition and a Charter Arms .38 Special with 5 rounds of 38 caliber ammunition. The driver and his front passenger, both from Lydonville, VT, were identified as VINCENT KEITHAN, 42, and ALICIA MITCHELL, 29. The rear passenger was identified as LUIS ANDINO, 23, of Springfield.

With the assistance from Troopers Scott Boutell and Blakely Pottinger, a recent graduate of the 84th Recruit Training Troop, Trooper Kurt D’Angelo and his K9 partner and Greenfield Officer Emily Rowell, all three parties were taken into custody for the drug offenses, illegally possessed firearms, amongst other charges and were subsequently transported to the State Police Shelburne Falls Barracks for booking. None of the arrested parties legally possess a license to carry a firearm.

VINCENT KEITHAN was charged with the following offenses:

• Trafficking Heroin;
• Trafficking Cocaine;
• Trafficking Fentanyl;
• Possess to Distribute Class D;
• Conspiracy to Violate the Drug Law;
• Possession of a Firearm;
• Improper Storage of a Firearm;
• Possess a Firearm in Felony;
• Carrying a Dangerous Weapon;
• Carrying a Loaded Firearm;
• Convicted Felon with a Firearm;
• Possession of a Firearm without an FID Card;
• Possession of Ammunition without an FID Card;
• Misc MV Equipment Violation;
• Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle; and
• Marked Lanes.

ALICIA MITCHELL was charged with the following offenses:

• Trafficking Cocaine;
• Trafficking Heroin;
• Trafficking Fentanyl;
• Possess to Distribute Class D;
• Conspiracy to Violate the Drug Law;
• Possession of a Firearm;
• Improper Storage of a Firearm;
• Possess a Firearm in Felony;
• Carrying a Dangerous Weapon;
• Carrying a Loaded Firearm;
• Possession of a Firearm without an FID Card; and
• Possession of Ammunition without an FID card.

LUIS ANDINO was charged with the following offenses:

• Trafficking Cocaine;
• Trafficking Heroin;
• Trafficking Fentanyl;
• Possess to Distribute Class D;
• Conspiracy to Violate the Drug Law;
• Possession of a Firearm;
• Improper Storage of a Firearm;
• Possess a Firearm in Felony;
• Carrying a Dangerous Weapon;
• Carrying a Loaded Firearm;
• Possession of a Firearm without an FID Card; and
• Possession of Ammunition without an FID card.

All three were held on $50,000 bail and later held at the Franklin House of Correction pending their arraignment in Greenfield District Court today.