BRANDON — A Brandon man was jailed on drug charges Wednesday evening after Brandon police searched his home and found bundles of heroin ready for sale and more than $1,000 in cash.
Richard J. Waite, 40, was due today to answer charges of trafficking heroin (in excess of 3.5 grams) and cultivating marijuana.
As part of an ongoing investigation into heroin distribution, Brandon police applied for and were granted a search warrant to search Waite and his residence.
At approximately 8:45 p.m. Brandon police officers, with the assistance of the Vermont State Police, executed the warrant at 691 Pearl St., where they found Waite and other family members.
Brandon Police Chief Christopher Brickell said in a press release that police found 56 bags of heroin pre-packaged into bundles (10 bag quantities) on Waite. Police also located at the residence another 211 bags similarly packaged in bundles for resale, making a total of 266 bags seized, Brickell’s release said.
Police confiscated a total of $1,241 in cash from the home, as well.
Richard J. Waite was taken into custody, processed and interviewed at the Brandon Police Department before being lodged at the Marble Valley Correctional Center in Rutland on $20,000 bail. Waite was scheduled to be arraigned in the Rutland Superior Court, Criminal Division, on Thursday afternoon. Waite faces a potential sentence of not more than 30 years in jail, a $1 million fine, or both if found guilty on the heroin trafficking charge, and up to 3 years and/or $10,000.00 on the marijuana charge.