Eight people, arrested after early morning drug raids Wednesday in Pittsfield, Richmond and Adams were arraigned before Judge Rita Koenigs on Wednesday afternoon in Central Berkshire District Court in Pittsfield.

Berkshire District Attorney David F. Capeless said those arraigned Wednesday were arrested in the culmination of the first phase of a large-scale, ongoing investigation. He said additional warrants and arrests are expected. According to Capeless, investigators have seized more than 150 grams of cocaine,  more than 25 pounds of high-grade marijuana, over 100 oxycontin pills, methadone tablets, one .380 caliber handgun and $50,000 in cash.

Those arraigned were:

• Michael Cargill, 34, of Swamp Road, Richmond: Single counts of trafficking in cocaine, conspiracy to violate drug laws (trafficking in cocaine), possession of oxycodone with intent to distribute, conspiracy to violate drug laws (possession of marijuana with intent to distribute).

• Richard B. Carnevale Jr., 31, Brown Street, Pittsfield: Not-guilty pleas entered on single counts of trafficking in cocaine, conspiracy to violate drug laws (trafficking in cocaine), trafficking in OxyContin, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, conspiracy to violate drug laws (possession of marijuana with intent to distribute)

Both men were ordered held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $500,00 bail and both will be back in court on March 8 for clarification of counsel.

• Michael King, 52, of Elm Street, Adams: Single counts of trafficking in cocaine and conspiracy to violate drug laws (trafficking in cocaine).

• Shane Whalen, 30, Dalton Avenue, Pittsfield: Not-guilty pleas entered on single counts of trafficking in cocaine and conspiracy to violate drug laws (trafficking in cocaine).

Both King and Whalen were ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $100,000 bail and to return to court on March 8 for clarification of counsel.

• David B. LaPlante, 31, Orchard Street, Pittsfield: Single counts of conspiracy to violate drug laws (trafficking in cocaine), possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and possession of a firearm without a firearm identification card.

Koenigs ordered that he be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $100,000 bail. He, too, will be back in court on March 8 for clarification of counsel.

• Tracey Gagne, 48, Elm Street, Adams: Not-guilty pleas entered on single counts of trafficking in cocaine and conspiracy to violate drug laws (trafficking in cocaine),

She was ordered held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $10,000 bail and will be back in court on March 8 for clarification of counsel.

• Frank LeClair, 49, Goodman Lane, Pittsfield: Single counts of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and conspiracy to violate drug laws (possession of marijuana with intent to distribute).

Koenigs ordered that he be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $10,000 bail. He will be back in court on March 29 for a pretrial hearing.

• Katie Lynne Powers, 24, Swamp Road, Richmond: Not-quilty pleas entered for single counts of trafficking in cocaine, conspiracy to violate drug laws (trafficking in cocaine) and possession of oxycodone with intent to distribute.

Koenigs ordered that she be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $1,000 bail. She will be back in court on March 29 for a violation of probation.
 
The investigation is being conducted by the Berkshire County Drug Task Force and state and federal investigators.

State police report they arrested three Pittsfield men early this morning for heroin trafficking after stopping them for speeding in Springfield.

According to police reports, Trooper Daniel Kelly of the Springfield barracks stopped a Subaru Impreza driven by John Meyette, 27, of Brooks Avenue in Pittsfield, for speeding on Route 291 at about 1:25 a.m.

Kelly said he discovered a large quantity of heroin in the vehicle - about 1,000 individual packages with a street value of $10,000 - and a hypodermic needle. He was assisted at the scene by Trooper Jonathan Nickles.

Meyette, Joseph Mathews, 21, of Memorial Drive and Lyle D. Parker, 23, of Scalise Drive, were all charged with trafficking a Class A controlled substance. Meyette was also charged with operating a vehicle with a suspended license and speeding. Police said none of men was properly licensed to the operate the car.

Members of the Berkshire County Drug Task Force executed more than a dozen search warrants this morning in Pittsfield, Richmond and Adams, according to a press release from the DA's office.

Berkshire District Attorney David F. Capeless said eight people were arrested in the culmination of the first phase of a large-scale, ongoing investigation. He said additional warrants and arrests are expected. According to Capeless, investigators have seized more than 150 grams of cocaine, more than 25 pounds of high-grade marijuana, more than 100 Oxycontin pills, methadone tablets, one .380-caliber handgun and $50,000 in cash.
 
Arrested in Pittsfield were Richard Carnevale Jr., Shane Whalen, Frank LeClair and David LaPlante; Richard Cargill and Katie Lynn Powers were arrested in Richmond; and Michael King and Tracy Gagne were arrested in Adams. All will be arraigned in Central Berkshire District Court in Pittsfield.
 
"This is a significant drug-dealing ring, and we will continue to work until we have snared every person involved," said Capeless in a statement. "I commend the officers of the Task Force for another job well done, and wish them continued success in bringing this investigation to a just conclusion."

The investigation is being conducted by the task force, including investigators from the state police assigned to the district attorney's office, members of the Pittsfield, Adams, North Adams, Dalton, Lee, Lenox, Williamstown, Lanesborough, Great Barrington and Stockbridge police departments, federal investigators from the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and state troopers assigned to the Lee and Cheshire barracks.