Leominster man charged with dealing drugs

LEOMINSTER » Police executed a search at a city man’s home Thursday and discovered and seized thousands of pieces of THC-laced candy, over 30 pounds of marijuana and over $208,000 in cash before arresting him on drug dealing charges, according to police and court documents.

The search warrant was sought after a confidential informant made several buys of marijuana at the residence of Matthew M. Heinecke, 41, of 1052 Mt. Elam Road, police said.

On Thursday, members of the North Worcester County Drug Task Force and State Police Gang Unit executed the search warrant and allegedly discovered:

• 76 grams of cocaine

• 32 pounds of marijuana

• 118 tubes containing 1 gram of marijuana

• 823 packs of THC-laced party gummies

• 212 packs of THC-laced candy

• 956 containers of “wax dabs” each containing 1 gram of THC per container

• 904 THC vape cartridges

• 747 THC-laced crunch bars — each bar contains 400 milligrams of THC

• 104 bars laced with psilocybin mushrooms

• $208,611 in cash

• Money counter, scales, baggies, sealers and

labelers

Police also reported that converting the edible items into THC concentrate would produce a dry flower weight of 57 pounds of marijuana.

As a result of the discovery, Heinecke was charged with trafficking more than 36 and less than 100 grams of cocaine, trafficking more than 50 but less than 100 pounds of marijuana, possession to distribute a Class C controlled substance, and possession of a Class C controlled substance, according to court documents.

When arraigned on Thursday, Heinecke, who pleaded not guilty, was ordered held in lieu of posting a $15,000 cash bail, which he did, and was released. He was also ordered to report to the probation department to be randomly screened for drug use, according to court documents.

He will return to court

March 25 for a pretrial hearing.