Orleans Board of Assessors Chairwoman Charged with Trafficking Fentanyl, Resigns from Position
ABOVE LEFT: Booking photo of Julia Lee, charged December 5, 2025 with Trafficking Fentanyl and a litany of other drug charges; RIGHT: Orleans PD evidence image…
ORLEANS, MASSACHUSETTS – Julia Lee, the 57-year-old chairwoman of the Town of Orleans Board of Assessors, has been charged with trafficking fentanyl and several other drug-related offenses following a police search of her residence. Lee, a resident of Orleans, resigned from her position amid the allegations, according to a recent article in the Cape Cod Chronicle.
The charges stem from an investigation that culminated in a search warrant executed on December 4, 2025. According to an arrest report filed by Detective Nicholas Ambrosini of the Yarmouth Police Department, investigators secured a nighttime “knock and announce” search warrant from Barnstable First District Court on December 3, 2025. The warrant targeted a property on Harwich Road, a 2018 Nissan Maxima, and Julia A. Lee herself, along with any other individuals present at the location. The focus of the search was fentanyl, a deadly opioid that has contributed to widespread drug-related issues on Cape Cod and nationwide. Probable cause for the warrant was established through an ongoing investigation.
On December 4, members of the Yarmouth and Orleans Police Departments, assisted by Cape Cod Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) operatives, established surveillance on the specified targets. Officers approached the residence at 22B Harwich Road, knocking on a sliding glass door. Lee reportedly answered the door and was informed of the search warrant. She was then handcuffed and seated in a living room chair while a copy of the warrant was attached to her refrigerator.
After being read her Miranda rights, Lee directed investigators to the locations of the drugs. A search of the premises revealed a clear glass Tupperware container holding 13 grams of an off-white powder, which tested positive for fentanyl using a TruNarc device. A small digital scale was also found on the same kitchen table.
Further discoveries included a sandwich bag with 6.7 grams of a clear rock-like crystal substance that tested positive for methamphetamine. Inside a metal Altoids container, officers located two small sandwich bags containing 3 grams of white powder, which tested positive for cocaine. A folded piece of tin foil held 10 small squares suspected to be Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD). Additional items recovered included a quantity of suspected psilocybin mushrooms, other drugs, paraphernalia, and cash.
Based on these findings, Detective Ambrosini’s report details the following charges against Lee:
- Trafficking Fentanyl, 10 grams or more (13 grams)
- Possession to distribute class B (Crystal Methamphetamine, 8.7 grams)
- Possession to distribute class B (Cocaine, 3 grams)
- Possession class B substance (LSD)
- Possession class C substance (Lorazepam)
- Possession class C substance (Psilocybin mushrooms, 8 grams)
Lee was arrested at her Harwich Road home and transported to the Yarmouth Police Department for booking. She was subsequently released on personal recognizance.
On December 5, 2025, Lee was arraigned on the trafficking and additional drug charges in Orleans District Court.
In a written statement, the Orleans Police Department acknowledged the support from partnering agencies, stating, “we recognize the essential contributions of our surrounding agencies for their collaboration and dedicated partnership in combating drug distribution within our communities.”
The case highlights ongoing efforts to address the opioid crisis and illegal drug distribution in the region. Further details on the investigation and any upcoming court proceedings were not immediately available.
HN Reminder: The above details are based on online reports and documents filed in district court. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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