Oak Bluffs couple nabbed by drug task force
By Steve Myrick
Published: December 17, 2009
The Martha's Vineyard Drug Task Force arrested Nicole S. Cleary, 27, and Quincy A. Young, 28, on Tuesday. The pair were arraigned the next day in Edgartown District Court on six identical drug dealing, firearms, and stolen property charges. The arrests came as police executed a search warrant at the couple's house on Lyme Street, Oak Bluffs.
Quincy A. Young was arraigned on firearms, drug, and stolen property charges in District Court. Photos by Steve Myrick The court entered not-guilty pleas for the defendants on charges of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, cocaine trafficking, illegal possession of a large capacity firearm, defacing a firearm serial number, possession of a defaced firearm while committing a felony, and receiving stolen property above $250.
Both defendants have substantial criminal records. Edgartown District Court clerk-magistrate Liza Williamson, who conducted the arraignments, ordered Mr. Young held on $2,500 bail. Ms. Williamson released Ms. Cleary on $1,500 bail. Ms. Williamson allowed the bail to remain unchanged, but because Dukes County probation officer Peter Zona told the court Ms. Cleary is on probation for several larceny and forgery charges, Ms. Williamson found her in violation, and ordered her taken into custody.
Search warrant
Nicole S. Cleary was taken into custody after her arraignment for violatiing her probation. Police got a search warrant for the couple's home following an investigation lasting several months. They executed that warrant on Tuesday evening, and found the defendants in a rear bedroom. Also in that bedroom, according to police, were all the supplies and equipment for a drug dealing operation.
"The search revealed 22 packets of cocaine with a weight of 22 grams," said state police Sgt. Jeff Stone, who heads the task force. "We also seized $1,032 in cash, along with scales and packaging."
Also seized was a silver .45 caliber Smith & Wesson handgun that was reported stolen from Edgartown on December 8.
"The serial numbers on that handgun had been ground off since it was stolen," Sgt. Stone said.
Oak Bluffs, Tisbury, and state police departments, as well as members of the drug task force, participated in the investigation and the arrests.
