Five Lewiston residents were arrested Wednesday on charges of trafficking in crack cocaine, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the state of Maine.

All five defendants made their initial appearance Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Portland, U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank said in a news release.

Criminal complaints filed in court state that the arrests were the culmination of an investigation into a crack trafficking ring based in Maine’s second largest city. The five allegedly distributed cocaine base – commonly know as crack – to buyers in the Lewiston-Auburn area.

Charged with trafficking were Sylas Way, 44; Elijah Blake, 26; Keon Baptiste-Harris, 35; Jamie Perry, 46; and Davontae Perrybrooks, 26, also known as Royale to law enforcement. Sales of the drug took place at various locations in downtown Lewiston, including Bradley, Howe and Shawmut streets.

If convicted, each individual could face up to 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine.

The investigation was conducted by the FBI’s Southern Maine Gang Task Force; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency; Maine State Police; and the Lewiston Police Department.

Dennis Hoey can be contacted at 791-6365 or at:

dhoey@pressherald.com