Salem Man Charged In Maine Drug-Trafficking Conspiracy

SALEM, MA — A Salem man was among three people charged Friday as part of what the U.S. Attorney's office said was a drug-trafficking ring involving cocaine, cocaine base, "distinctive purple" fentanyl and methamphetamine in Massachusetts and Maine.

The U.S. Attorney's office said 22-year-old Armani Minier-Tejada — also known as "Shotz" — was charged, along with Miguel Minier, 55, of Lynn, and Shelby Kleffman, 31, of Trenton, Maine, with obtaining the drugs in Massachusetts for distribution in Maine. Minier-Tejada and Kleffman were also charged with one count of conspiracy to possess, use and carry firearms as part of a drug trafficking conspiracy.

The U.S. Attorney's office said Minier-Tejada and Kleffman were arrested in Maine on Friday and members of the conspiracy "possessed numerous firearms, including at least one fully-automatic firearm with a 'selector switch' that converts a semi-automatic firearm into a machinegun, in order to protect the drug-trafficking operation and target rival drug-traffic operators."

Among the drugs the trio is charged with bringing to Maine for sale was a "distinctive purple fentanyl." Minier-Tejada is also accused of obtaining rental vehicles and rental homes in Maine that served as "distribution hubs for the conspiracy."

The drug charges can bring a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a lifetime of supervised parole and a fine of up to $1 million.

The U.S. Attorney's office said the Malden, Lynn and Salem police departments assisted in the investigation, along with Maine and federal authorities, through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force.