BARTON — Authorities say a Barton woman is facing federal drug charges following a search at her home yesterday.
Erika Desormeaux, 36, was arrested and held in federal custody following the search carried out on Maple Hill Road.
Desormeaux is charged in a criminal complaint alleging she conspired with Nathaniel Jamal “JJ” Jones, and Jermaine R. “Bear” Douchette, to distribute cocaine and fentanyl.
Jones and Douchette were not located during the search of the Barton residence, and warrants remain active for their arrest.
According to an affidavit filed with the criminal complaint, Desormeaux distributed controlled substances from her Barton residence and allowed other individuals to do the same, including Jones and Douchette.
Investigators arranged the purchase of cocaine and fentanyl from the defendants on multiple occasions between August and October 2022, and most of those transactions occurred at Desormeaux’s residence.
As alleged in the affidavit, witnesses described the conspirators’ possession and acquisition of firearms during the investigation, and Desormeaux herself purchased a firearm in June 2022 that she traded for fentanyl.
“The Orleans County Sheriff’s Department is committed to working with our state and federal partners to combat drug and firearms trafficking,” Orleans Sheriff Jennifer Harlow said. “Drug addiction and the often-violent drug dealers taking advantage of our community have a perilous impact on all of us.”
