By Gillian Graham

Staff Writer

Maine Drug Enforcement agents have arrested seven people in Biddeford and Saco in the past three weeks on crack and cocaine charges.

Shantel Lacourse, 29, of Saco, was arrested at her Pleasant Street home Feb. 10 by drug agents and members of the Saco-Biddeford Special Services Team. She was charged with aggravated trafficking in crack cocaine. Agents seized 5 grams of crack and $2,421 in suspected drug proceeds during the early morning raid of her home, according to Maine Department of Public Safety Spokesman Stephen McCausland.

Lacourse has been under investigation for six months. She was convicted in 2006 of selling crack and agents began investigating her again because they suspected she was selling drugs, McCausland said.

The previous day, agents arrested a Connecticut man suspected of selling crack cocaine from an apartment on Pike Street in Biddeford. Rishard Mcilwain, 26, of New Britain, Conn., also was charged with aggravated trafficking in crack cocaine.

Agents seized more than 11 grams of crack and $1,775 in suspected drug proceeds from Mcilwain’s apartment, according to police. McCausland said Mcilwain goes by the street name “Shard.”

Lacourse was taken to York County Jail. She and Mcilwain are expected to make an appearance March 23 in York County Superior Court.

Gary Sherrod Richardson, 33, of Massachusetts, was arrested by drug agents Feb. 7 at an apartment at 60 Lincoln St. in Saco and charged with trafficking in crack. Richardson, who most recently lived in Hyde Park, Mass., was suspected of selling crack cocaine in Saco and Biddeford for the past six months, McCausland said.

After placing an order for crack cocaine Feb. 7, undercover agents followed a suspect into the house and witnessed the sale of drugs. Richardson, also known as “J.P.,” was arrested by drug agents with assistance from Saco police.

Agents seized 38 grams of processed crack with a street value of $3,800 from the apartment. Richardson was taken to York County Jail.

Three other people recently arrested on drug charges listed 60 Lincoln St. as a home address. George Rizeakos is charged with trafficking cocaine, Helene Patrick is charged with trafficking crack and Jeffery Noonan was charged with possession of crack. Sharon Lucas of Saco also was recently charged with possession of crack.

McCausland said all seven arrests took place in the two-week period following Jan. 25. The York County MDEA Task Force is staffed by agents from Biddeford, Saco, Wells, Eliot and Sanford police departments.

Staff Writer Gillian Graham can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 213.