Cocaine Trafficking Suspect Released On $50,000 Bail, Arraigned On New Charges On Nantucket
David Creed •
Edward Gillispie, the 62-year-old island resident who was arrested last month in Hyannis for allegedly preparing to transport a kilogram of cocaine to Nantucket, was arraigned Tuesday on new charges stemming from the investigation in Nantucket District Court. Gillispie pleaded not guilty to charges of possessing a class B drug to distribute and trafficking cocaine in an amount greater than 36 grams but less than 100 grams.
Gillispie is currently out of jail after posting $50,000 cash bail on January 30th following a dangerousness hearing in Barnstable District Court. In addition to the cash bail, some of the conditions of his release include wearing a GPS monitoring device from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., checking in with a probation officer once per week, and no possession of firearms.
Gillispie, who was scheduled to appear via Zoom, voluntarily appeared in-person Tuesday morning for his arraignment on the island. The Cape & Island’s District Attorney’s office requested an additional $10,000 cash bail on the Nantucket charges and conditions that mirror those in Barnstable.
Gillispie's attorney, James Merberg, requested that he be released on his personal recognizance.
“(The) $50,000 posted over in Barnstable taxed his abilities to raise money, as well as his family,” Merberg said. “Bail is to ensure his presence. He is here Judge. He is not going anywhere. He’s on a GPS monitoring (device). My understanding is he has not violated any of his conditions of his pretrial release.”
Nantucket District Court Judge James Sullivan ultimately decided to release Gillispie on his personal recognizance due to “the substantial cash bail” he had already posted in Barnstable on the condition he continue to abide by the conditions imposed in Barnstable District Court.
Gillispie was ordered to return to court April 13th for a pretrial/status hearing.
The original charges in Barnstable District Court were filed after Barnstable Police seized approximately 1,141 grams of cocaine, 68 grams of Amphetamine pills and approximately $10,000 in cash from a vehicle parked in Hyannis following its investigation last month after a car thief allegedly discovered the drugs while trying to steal the vehicle. Following Gillespie’s arrest, the Barnstable Police stated that its detective unit was granted a search warrant for his Nantucket residence, which yielded the additional quantities of cocaine, amphetamines, evidence of narcotics trafficking, and approximately $9,500 in USA currency. That search led Nantucket Police to submit a summons for Gillespie to appear in Nantucket District Court to face the additional charges on Tuesday.
According to the police report, the search warrant granted to search Gillispie's Windy Way apartment was conducted by four members of the Nantucket Police Department's detective unit and uncovered:
- Approximately 30.5 grams of Cocaine in a vacuum sealed bag found in a Smith & Wesson soft pistol case.
- Approximately 68 grams of Amphetamines/methamphetamines (Adderall) in a vacuum sealed bag found in a small black pelican case.
- Approximately five grams of Cocaine in four separate corner cut bags found in a hideaway magnet case on the refrigerator, one gram of Cocaine in a corner cut baggie found in a Barbasol cann located in a tall gun safe, and approximately one gram of Cocaine in a corner cut baggie found on a bedroom self.
- $7,000 in USA currency found in a tall gun safe and $2,500 in USA currency found in a tall gun safe.
- A black digital scale found on a bedroom shelf, clear vacuum seal bags found in a kitchen drawer to the right of the stove, a hideaway magnet case found on the refrigerator, a barbasol can with false bottom found in a tall gun safe, and a Smith & Wesson soft pistol case found on a bedroom shelf.