Woodland Couple Charged with Trafficking Bath Salts

Authorities have arrested a couple from Woodland and charged them with Aggravated Trafficking of Synthetic Hallucinogens aka "Bath Salts".

According to Safety Spokesman Stephen McCausland, on Thursday February 6, MDEA Agents from the Aroostook County Task Force, assisted by the Aroostook County Sheriff’s Department, executed a search warrant on the home of Lance and Kathryn Ellison in Woodland.

The warrant was the result of a several month investigation into the distribution of synthetic hallucinogen “bath salts” in Central Aroostook County.

Agents and deputies located and seized, a shotgun, a loaded 9mm handgun, $6,760., 3.39 pounds of a-PVP aka: “bath salts”, with a street value of $308,000, numerous laptop computers, cell phones, along with other evidence of drug trafficking. In addition to the a-PVP, agents also seized a quantity of the prescription drugs Suboxone and Fentanyl.

44-year-old Lance Ellison, was charged with Aggravated Trafficking in a Schedule W drug (Synthetic Hallucinogens)- Class A and possession of a firearm by a felon- Class C. At the time of his arrest, Ellison was also on probation for being in possession of a firearm by a felon. Ellison’s criminal record includes a 1990 armed robbery conviction for which he received a 10 year sentence, a 2003 aggravated trafficking in heroin conviction for which he received an 8 year sentence, and a 2013 conviction for possession of a firearm by a felon. Ellison’s current drug charges were aggravated due to the seizure of a loaded firearm located near where the drugs were seized and because of his 2003 heroin conviction.

Ellison’s wife, 41-year-old Kathryn Ellison, was charged with Aggravated Trafficking in Schedule W drugs (Synthetic hallucinogens) Class A.

Lance and Kathryn will be arraigned later today in Houlton. Currently, bail is set at $100,000 cash on Kathryn. A probation hold was placed on Lance Ellison and bail has not currently been set.

MDEA Director Roy McKinney states this seizure highlights the disturbing fact that bulk quantities of these synthetic hallucinogens or “bath salts” continue to dominate the illicit drug market in all areas of this state, to include rural Northern Maine.
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