District of Maine
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Portland Man Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking ChargesRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Portland man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Portland to two counts of distributing crack cocaine and fentanyl.
According to court records, Tasheem Carter, 41, sold more than 28 grams of crack cocaine and more than 40 grams of fentanyl to an FBI informant on three occasions in June and July 2025. On July 29, 2025, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Carter’s residence and recovered drugs and more than $25,000 in cash.
At the time Carter distributed the crack cocaine and fentanyl, he was on supervised release following a 2016 federal conviction for conspiring to distribute controlled substances. In addition to pleading guilty, he also admitted that his new criminal conduct violated the terms of his supervised release.
Carter faces a mandatory minimum term of 10 years and up to life imprisonment; up to an $8 million fine; and up to a lifetime of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force and the Portland Police Department investigated the case.
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Massachusetts Man Pleads Guilty to Methamphetamine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Massachusetts, man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Portland to one count of conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and three counts of distributing methamphetamine.
According to court records, Danny Sun, 38, was part of a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine between November 2024 and January 2025. In late November 2024, an FBI confidential source met with Sun and a co-conspirator in southern Maine and received approximately 220 grams of methamphetamine pills. On two subsequent dates, the confidential source contacted Sun for the purchase of additional drugs. Sun told the confidential source he would send someone with the drugs. Sun’s co-conspirator provided the FBI source with approximately 361 grams of methamphetamine pills in December 2024 and 419 grams in January 2025.
Sun faces a mandatory minimum prison term of 10 years and up to life imprisonment, up to a $10 million fine, and up to a lifetime of supervised release following any term of imprisonment. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI investigated the case, with assistance from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Portland Police Department, and the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency.
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Massachusetts Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl and Crack Cocaine Trafficking Following Homeland Security Task Force InvestigationRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Massachusetts man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Portland to possessing fentanyl and crack cocaine with intent to distribute and conspiracy.
According to court records, on September 15, 2025, law enforcement in Woodstock, Maine, observed three men engaging in an apparent drug transaction. When investigators contacted the men, two of the men fled into the woods. One man was apprehended after a foot pursuit, and was found in possession of approximately 27 grams of cocaine. The other man evaded law enforcement that day, but was quickly identified as Raymundo Dejesus, 45, an associate of the Trinitario street gang. During searches of the area where Dejesus was last seen before fleeing into the woods, investigators recovered a bag containing approximately 35 grams of a substance containing fentanyl, a bag containing approximately 17 grams of cocaine base, and two firearms.
Dejesus faces up to 20 years in prison, a maximum fine of $1 million, and up to a lifetime of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force investigated the case with assistance from the Rumford Police Department, the Norway Police Department, the Oxford County Sheriff’s Office, and U.S. Border Patrol.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. The Maine HSTF comprises agents and officers from FBI; HSI; DEA; IRS-Criminal Investigations; U.S. Marshals Service; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Diplomatic Security Service; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; U.S. Border Patrol; Coast Guard Investigative Service; and Transportation Security Administration, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine.
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Lewiston Man Sentenced for Aggravated Identity Theft and Benefits FraudRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Lewiston man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for aggravated identity theft, false statements relating to health care matters, and unlawful use of Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.
Chief U.S. District Judge Lance E. Walker sentenced Joseph Dobie, 38, to 36 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Dobie was also ordered to pay $36,373.16 in restitution. Dobie pleaded guilty on February 13, 2026.
According to court records, Dobie stole a victim’s identity which he then used to obtain drivers licenses and a social security card. Dobie used the stolen identity to apply for and receive SNAP benefits in Maine and New York. At the same time, Dobie was receiving SNAP benefits in New York using his true identity. Dobie also used the stolen identity to apply for and receive healthcare benefits from MaineCare (Maine’s Medicaid program). In total, Dobie fraudulently obtained a total of $36,373.16 in benefits from SNAP and MaineCare.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, investigated the case.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
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Honduran Illegal Alien Sentenced for Illegally Reentering the CountryRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Honduran man pleaded guilty and was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for illegally reentering the country after a prior removal.
Chief U.S. District Judge Lance E. Walker sentenced Jonnatan Irias-Lainez, 31, to time served (99 days).
According to court records, on May 28, 2025, agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) arrested Irias-Lainez following a traffic stop in Biddeford. Irias-Lainez had been removed from the United States on January 11, 2019, after entering the country illegally from Mexico.
ICE ERO investigated the case.
Operation Take Back America: This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
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New York Man Sentenced for Bank Fraud Conspiracy Following Homeland Security Task Force InvestigationRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A New York man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Bangor for conspiring to commit bank fraud.
U.S. District Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. sentenced Yongliang Deng, 35, to time-served (approximately one day) in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. Deng was also ordered to pay restitution. Deng pleaded guilty on January 21, 2026.
According to court records, Deng provided his personal information and government-issued identification documentation to a co-defendant, who used Deng’s information to apply for and obtain a residential mortgage loan from a Maine bank to buy a residence in Eddington. Deng obtained the mortgage by misrepresenting that he would occupy and use the property as his primary residence. During an interview with federal agents, Deng admitted that the Eddington property was an investment property that had been rented out, and that he had never resided there. The property was instead used to illegally cultivate marijuana.
Neither Deng nor any property associated with the conspiracy was licensed through the Maine Office of Cannabis Policy.
The FBI, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and IRS-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) investigated the case, with assistance provided by the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office and the Maine Fire Marshal’s Office.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. The Maine HSTF comprises agents and officers from FBI; HSI; DEA; IRS-Criminal Investigations; U.S. Marshals Service; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Diplomatic Security Service; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; U.S. Border Patrol; Coast Guard Investigative Service; and Transportation Security Administration, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine.
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Windsor Man Sentenced for Firearm and Drug OffensesRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Windsor man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Bangor for being a felon in possession of firearms and for possessing cocaine base with intent to distribute.
U.S. District Judge Stacey D. Neumann sentenced Anthony Englesbobb, 39, to 264 months (22 years) in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. He was also ordered to forfeit the firearms seized from his residence. Englesbobb pleaded guilty on January 6, 2026.
According to court records, on December 17, 2024, law enforcement agents executed a federal search warrant at Englesbobb’s Windsor residence. Agents seized nine firearms from Englesbobb’s bedroom and crack cocaine packed in small plastic bags from his person. Englesbobb was prohibited from possessing firearms due to several prior felony convictions.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency investigated the case.
This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
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Portland Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing Cocaine and Crack Cocaine with Intent to DistributeRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Portland man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Portland to possessing cocaine and crack cocaine with intent to distribute.
According to court records, on July 8, 2024, Portland police officers arrested Anthony Lobor, 27, on a state arrest warrant. Later that day, investigators searched Lobor’s residence under a search warrant and found cocaine, crack cocaine, several cell phones, cash, seven firearms, and ammunition.
Lobor faces up to 20 years in prison, a maximum fine of $1 million, and up to a lifetime of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Portland Police Department investigated the case, with assistance from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
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Thomaston Resident Sentenced for Border Patrol AssaultRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Thomaston resident was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for assaulting a U.S. Border Patrol agent engaged in his official duties.
Chief U.S. District Judge Lance E. Walker sentenced Olivia Wilkins, 24, to nine months in prison. Wilkins pleaded guilty in March 2026.
According to court records, in August 2025, a United States Border Patrol agent responded to a one-vehicle crash in Washington, Maine. As law enforcement conducted a roadside investigation, Wilkins came upon the scene in an automobile and parked close to officers. Wilkins voiced concerns regarding Border Patrol’s presence in the area, but was permitted to move the vehicle further back from the crash to continue observing law enforcement. As the Border Patrol agent took an individual on scene into custody and began moving the individual to a nearby Border Patrol vehicle, Wilkins quickly accelerated toward the agent, who pulled the individual off the roadside away from the oncoming vehicle. Wilkins stopped the vehicle without striking either the agent or the individual in custody before swerving back into the lane of travel and fleeing the scene. Maine State Police troopers were able to arrest Wilkins a short distance away.
In imposing sentence, Chief Judge Walker noted that one of the law enforcement officers on the scene had understandably drawn his service weapon and pointed it at Wilkins when Wilkins drove toward the Border Patrol agent. The judge told Wilkins that she was very lucky that the officer had not fired his weapon in response.
The FBI investigated the case.
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Portland Man Sentenced for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Portland man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for his role in a California-Maine cocaine trafficking conspiracy.
U.S. District Judge Stacey D. Neumann sentenced Chase Kane, 30, to 12 months and one day in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. Kane pleaded guilty on December 10, 2025.
According to court records, Kane and associates repeatedly received large quantities of cocaine via mail, primarily from California, and made trips to California and Mexico to meet with suppliers and co-conspirators. They then distributed the drug to customers and associates in eastern Maine. Kane and his associates possessed multiple firearms during the drug conspiracy.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) investigated this case, with the assistance of the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency and the United States Postal Inspection Service.
Operation Take Back America: This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
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Portland Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Portland man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Portland to one count of possessing child pornography.
According to court records, in December 2025, a social media application company reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that one of its users had saved, shared, or uploaded a file containing child sexual abuse materials. Investigators were able to identify a Google account associated with the user and obtained a search warrant for the account. Contained on the Google account were thousands of child sexual abuse files, as well as a selfie-style photo of Clyde Hall, 60. The Google account contained numerous e-mails to Hall, to include package delivery information to his residence, and Hall’s banking information. Hall has a prior federal conviction for possession of child pornography.
Hall faces a minimum term of 10 years and maximum term of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to a lifetime of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case with the assistance of the Portland Police Department.
To report an incident involving the possession, distribution, receipt or production of child sexual abuse material: Child sexual abuse material – referred to in legal terms as "child pornography" – captures the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. These images document victims’ exploitation and abuse, and they suffer revictimization every time the images are viewed. In 2023, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children received 36 million reports of the possession, manufacture, or distribution of child sexual abuse materials. To file a report with NCMEC, go to https://report.cybertip.org or call 1-800-843-5678. If you are in Maine and you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted or abused, you can get help by calling the free, private 24-hour statewide sexual assault helpline at 1-800-871-7741.
Project Safe Childhood: This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psc.
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New York Resident Sentenced for Possession with the Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A New York resident was sentenced on July 28, 2026 in U.S. District Court in Bangor for possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.
U.S. District Judge Stacey Neumann sentenced Qu’tessa Johnson, 37, to five years probation. Johnson pleaded guilty on March 3, 2026.
According to court records, on September 12, 2024, Johnson accidentally drove her vehicle through the Houlton Port of Entry into Canada while traveling north on I-95 from New York City. When she realized her mistake, she backed up her vehicle in an attempt to return to the United States. She was referred for secondary inspection and, during a search of her vehicle, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers discovered two bags containing more than 1.7 kilograms of methamphetamine.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Field Operations and Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case.
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Dominican National Sentenced for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Dominican national was sentenced on July 28, 2026 in U.S. District Court in Bangor for his role in a Massachusetts-Maine fentanyl trafficking conspiracy.
U.S. District Judge Stacey D. Neumann sentenced Ramon De Leon, 26, to 48 months in prison. De Leon pleaded guilty on October 22, 2025.
According to court records, De Leon and his brother Alexis De Leon worked together to transport kilograms of fentanyl from Massachusetts to Maine for distribution. The investigation initially showed that an individual known locally only as “Leon Leon” was using a Facebook account and other means to contact associates and customers in Maine. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) developed evidence that De Leon and his brother were responsible for operating that Facebook page and arranged monitored purchases of fentanyl from “Leon Leon.” The DEA ultimately coordinated a traffic stop in June 2024, with the assistance of Maine State Police, during which the De Leon brothers were found in possession of a large quantity of fentanyl en route to Bangor. The conspiracy brought over 20 kilograms of fentanyl into Maine.
Ramon De Leon is the fifth defendant to be sentenced in relation to this investigation. Alexis De Leon was sentenced to five years in prison on January 8, 2026; Mandi Ford was sentenced to time served (approximately 19 months) on February 13, 2026; Bradley Bellfleur was sentenced to six years in prison on May 15, 2026; and Andrew Marin was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison on June 10, 2026.
The DEA investigated this case, with the assistance of the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency and the Maine State Police.
Operation Take Back America: This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
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Former Stetson Resident Sentenced for Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A former Stetson man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Bangor for being a felon in possession of firearms and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number.
U.S. District Judge Stacey D. Neuman sentenced Marc Karun, 61, to five years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Karun pleaded guilty on February 15, 2024.
According to court records, police found over 60 firearms and more than 14,000 rounds of ammunition while executing a search warrant at Karun’s Stetson home. The guns were found in various places in the house, and some were loaded. One rifle had the serial number removed. Karun was prohibited from possessing firearms due to prior Connecticut felony convictions for sexual assault, attempted sexual assault, burglary, and larceny.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives and the Maine State Police investigated the case.
This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
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Clinton Man Pleads Guilty to Multiple Child Exploitation OffensesRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Clinton man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Bangor to production and receipt of child pornography, and enticement of a minor.
According to court records, law enforcement received information that an individual, later identified as Keith Page, 73, was remitting money via Venmo and PayPal to several individuals identified as being under the age of 18, likely in exchange for child pornography. One of the accounts Page had remitted money to was identified as belonging to a female minor residing in New Orleans, Louisiana. Investigators contacted the minor, who stated that she had been providing sexually explicit images of herself to Page in exchange for money since she was 15 years old. During a subsequent interview with Page, he admitted that he knew the minor female was underage.
Page faces a minimum term of 15 years and a maximum term of 30 years in prison for production of child pornography, a minimum term of 10 years and a maximum term of life in prison for enticement of a minor, and a minimum term of five years and a maximum term of 20 years in prison for receipt of child pornography. Page also faces a maximum fine of $250,000 and a maximum supervised release term of life for each count. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Homeland Security Investigations and the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit – Special Victims investigated the case.
To report an incident involving the possession, distribution, receipt or production of child pornography: Child sexual abuse material – referred to in legal terms as "child pornography" – captures the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. These images document victims’ exploitation and abuse, and they suffer revictimization every time the images are viewed. In 2023, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children received 36 million reports of the possession, manufacture, or distribution of child sexual abuse materials. To file a report with NCMEC, go to https://report.cybertip.org or call 1-800-843-5678. If you are in Maine and you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted or abused, you can get help by calling the free, private 24-hour statewide sexual assault helpline at 1-800-871-7741.
Project Safe Childhood: This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psc.
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California Man Indicted in Maine for Sex Trafficking and Related OffensesRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury in the District of Maine returned a six-count indictment today charging Shawn Bonneau, 40, of Fullerton, California, with sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion and wire fraud.
According to court documents, from January 2016 through December 2023, Bonneau compelled three adult women to perform commercial sex acts in Maine, and elsewhere, for his financial benefit. He also used the electronic mail systems to fraudulently obtain funds from another individual at the same time he was engaging in his sex trafficking scheme.
If convicted, Bonneau faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison, with a maximum penalty of life in prison, as well as a maximum penalty of lifetime supervised release.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Andrew B. Benson for the District of Maine made the announcement.
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New England Field Office is investigating the case.
Trial Attorney Elizabeth Hutson of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Anne Yereniuk for the District of Maine are prosecuting the case.
Anyone who has information about human trafficking should report that information to the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free at 1-888-373-7888, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information about human trafficking, please visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org. Information on the Justice Department’s efforts to combat human trafficking can be found at www.justice.gov/humantrafficking.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Eddington Man Convicted of Making Online ThreatsRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: An Eddington man was found guilty on July 21, 2026, of three counts of transmitting interstate threatening communications and one count of threatening Vice President Kamala Harris, following a two-day jury trial in U.S. District Court in Bangor. He was found not guilty of one additional count of transmitting an interstate threat.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Thadius Wind, 52, made posts on X, formerly known as Twitter, threatening to kill Jewish people, Vice President Kamala Harris, Maine law enforcement officers, and Elon Musk. The FBI identified Wind as the author of the posts and executed a search warrant at his Eddington residence in March of 2025, where they found numerous swords. The investigation and evidence at trial showed that Wind held strong animosity towards the individuals and groups he threatened.
On each count, Wind faces up to 5 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine his sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI and the U.S. Secret Service investigated the case with assistance from the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office.
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New York Woman Sentenced for Multiple Fraud OffensesRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A New York woman was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for bank fraud, false use of a passport, and aggravated identity theft.
U.S. District Judge John A. Woodcock Jr. sentenced Lisa Campos, 59, to time served, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release. Campos had already served approximately 28 months in custody. Campos was also ordered to pay $8,000 in restitution. Campos pleaded guilty on May 23, 2024.
According to court records, in May 2023, Campos attempted to withdraw funds from a credit union account belonging to two victims. Campos presented a fake United States passport card as identification. She was successful in withdrawing $8000 from one credit union and made two additional unsuccessful attempts at other branch locations. Shortly after leaving the third branch, Campos was located by Freeport Police Department officers and provided them with the purported passport card and a debit card, both in one of the victim’s names.
The U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service investigated the case, with assistance from the Sanford, Topsham, and Freeport Police Departments.
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Howland Man Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing FirearmRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Howland man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Bangor to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court records, in September 2025, several individuals reported seeing Ralph Nason, 65, in possession of a firearm. Based on this information, investigators executed a search warrant at Nason’s home in Howland. During the warrant’s execution, investigators located a black semi-automatic handgun under a sweatshirt on the dining room table and ammunition. Nason is prohibited from possessing firearms as a result of prior felony convictions, including a federal conviction in Massachusetts.
Nason faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years, up to a $250,000 fine, and a term of supervised release of up to three years. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Homeland Security Investigations; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to making our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
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Former Ellsworth Resident Sentenced for Being a Felon in Possession of FirearmsRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A former Ellsworth resident was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Bangor for being a felon in possession of firearms.
U.S. District Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. sentenced Karissa Beam, 36, to three years in jail to be followed by three years of supervised release. Beam pleaded guilty on January 8, 2026.
According to court records, Beam was encountered by a Hancock County Sheriff’s Deputy in an area of Trenton, Maine, known to have a high incidence of drug related activities. Beam, who was on state probation for a prior robbery conviction, was searched by police and found in possession of a Taurus handgun and a Glock handgun.
The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case.
This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
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Brooklyn, New York Man Sentenced for Maintaining a Drug Involved PremisesRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Brooklyn, New York man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Bangor for maintaining a drug involved premises.
U.S. District Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. sentenced Xisen Guo, 68, to time served and one year of supervised release. Guo pleaded guilty on January 13, 2025.
According to court records, Guo operated a marijuana grow at a residence on Main Road in Passadumkeag. Members of the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Department, together with members of Homeland Security Investigations and the Federal Bureau of Investigation executed a state search warrant at the location in February 2024. Investigators seized approximately 40 pounds of processed marijuana, $4,710 in U.S. Currency, and evidence of marijuana cultivation. During a post-arrest interview at the location, Guo admitted that, for a time, he had rented the property to a person who grew marijuana and that he had eventually taken over the growing activity himself. Further investigation revealed that Guo had acquired the property through a limited liability company and then used and maintained the residence for the purpose of growing and distributing marijuana between July 2020 and February 2024. The defendant paid the electrical utilities and property taxes on the property. The defendant also purchased equipment and materials used to grow marijuana at the property.
The Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, and the FBI investigated the case.
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Illegal Alien from England Sentenced for Entering the US Without Inspection and Lying to Federal InvestigatorsRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A citizen of the United Kingdom was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Bangor for entering the United States without inspection and lying to federal investigators.
U.S. Magistrate Judge John C. Nivison sentenced Hameed Mohammed Nagi, 21, to time served. Nagi pleaded guilty on June 8, 2026.
According to court records, Nagi and three other men walked through the heavily wooded border between Quebec and Somerset County during the pre-dawn hours of April 3, 2026. Their point of entry was within a few hundred yards of the Saint Zacharie, Maine port of entry that was manned by agents of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations (“OFO”). Upon exiting the woods, Nagi and his companions began walking down the Golden Road heading east.
Passersby in the area reported to an OFO agent seeing the four men walking east on the Golden Road. The OFO agent reported the sighting to the U.S. Border Patrol (“USBP”) station in Jackman. A USBP agent and an OFO agent responded to the area of the sighting, located the four men and took them into custody without incident. When questioned about their citizenship, Nagi and his three companions stated they were citizens of the United Kingdom. The four were then transported back to the Jackman Border Patrol station.
During subsequent questioning by FBI and USBP agents, Nagi maintained that he had not intentionally entered the United States. He falsely claimed that he and his friends were on a hike in Canada and had accidentally crossed into the U.S. Investigators later determined that Nagi had entered the country with the intention of working but was concerned he would not be granted a visa. Neither the FBI nor Homeland Security Investigations uncovered any evidence suggesting that Nagi and his companions intended to engage in any acts of violence.
USBP, OFO, Homeland Security Investigations, and the FBI investigated the case.
Operation Take Back America: This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
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Ohio Man Pleads Guilty to Violating Sex Offender Registration Rules and Failing to Present at Designated Border CrossingRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: An Ohio man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Bangor to failing to comply with sex offender reporting requirements, failing to present at a designated border crossing, and violating federal supervised release.
According to court records, in 2021, Darrell Murphy, 42, was convicted in federal court in the Western District of North Carolina of two counts of interstate travel to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor. He was sentenced to 52 months in prison and 25 years of supervised release. Among his conditions of supervised release was the requirement that he comply with the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). Under SORNA, a registered sex offender must provide his local registration authority with advance notice of his intent to travel internationally. Murphy was registered with the Carroll County, Ohio, Sheriff’s Department.
On December 31, 2025, Canadian authorities advised U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) that a man (subsequently identified as Murphy) had illegally entered Canada by walking across a train trestle in Vanceboro. Canadian law enforcement officers responded to the area but did not apprehend the man. USBP agents immediately responded to the U.S. side of the bridge and found a set of tracks in the snow leading to the parking lot of the Vanceboro post office and a vehicle bearing Ohio plates.
Shortly before 5:00 a.m. on January 5, 2026, USBP was alerted that the same man had returned to the U.S. from Canada by walking back across the bridge. A USBP agent responded to the parking lot and observed Murphy walking towards the Ohio-plated vehicle. When encountered by the agent, Murphy admitted to crossing into Canada days earlier and then returning in the same manner.
The U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) confirmed that Murphy had not notified the Carroll County Sheriff’s Department of his intention to travel to Canada.
For the SORNA violation, Murphy faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. For the failure to present violation, he faces up to one year in prison and a $5,000 fine. For the supervised release violation, he faces a consecutive prison term of up to three years.
USBP and USMS investigated the case, with assistance provided by Homeland Security Investigations and the Carroll County (Ohio) Sheriff’s Department.
South Carolina Man Pleads Guilty to Robbing Westbrook BankRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A South Carolina man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Portland to bank robbery.
According to court records, Jean Pierre Gendron, 61, handed a note demanding money to a teller at a Westbrook bank. Gendron then fled the bank with over $6,300 in a blue bank bag. The Westbrook Police Department identified Gendron as the robber and determined that he boarded a bus to Londonderry, New Hampshire, shortly after the robbery. The Londonderry Police Department arrested Gendron when he exited the bus. When he was apprehended, Gendron had over $6,300 in cash and a blue bank bag on his person. Gendron admitted to robbing the bank.
Gendron faces up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI and the Westbrook Police Department investigated the case.
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Sidney Man Sentenced for Receiving Child PornographyRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Sidney man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Bangor for receiving child pornography.
U.S. District Judge Stacey D. Neumann sentenced Jeremy Grignon, 30, to five years in prison, to be followed by seven years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $5,000 in restitution.
According to court records, Grignon used online platforms, including Snap and the now-shuttered Omegle, to receive images and videos of minor females engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Some of the videos were sent from the minors themselves.
Homeland Security Investigations and the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit–Special Victims investigated the case.
To report an incident involving the possession, distribution, receipt or production of child pornography: Child sexual abuse material – referred to in legal terms as "child pornography" – captures the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. These images document victims’ exploitation and abuse, and they suffer revictimization every time the images are viewed. In 2023, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children received 36 million reports of the possession, manufacture, or distribution of child sexual abuse materials. To file a report with NCMEC, go to https://report.cybertip.org or call 1-800-843-5678. If you are in Maine and you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted or abused, you can get help by calling the free, private 24-hour statewide sexual assault helpline at 1-800-871-7741.
Project Safe Childhood: This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psc.
Presque Isle Man Pleads Guilty to Sex Trafficking and Enticement OffensesRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Presque Isle man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Bangor to attempted sex trafficking of a minor, enticement of a minor and attempted enticement of a minor.
According to court records, in 2024, Joseph Maile, 27, used the social media platform Snap to proposition minors for sexual images and to offer money in exchange for sex with minors.
Maile faces a minimum of 10 years and a maximum of 25 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to a lifetime of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI investigated the case.
To report an incident involving the possession, distribution, receipt or production of child pornography: Child sexual abuse material – referred to in legal terms as "child pornography" – captures the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. These images document victims’ exploitation and abuse, and they suffer revictimization every time the images are viewed. In 2023, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children received 36 million reports of the possession, manufacture, or distribution of child sexual abuse materials. To file a report with NCMEC, go to https://report.cybertip.org or call 1-800-843-5678. If you are in Maine and you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted or abused, you can get help by calling the free, private 24-hour statewide sexual assault helpline at 1-800-871-7741.
Project Safe Childhood: This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psc.
Massachusetts Man Sentenced for Illegally Possessing a Handgun and Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Webster, Massachusetts, man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for being a felon in possession of a firearm, possessing cocaine with intent to distribute, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
U.S. District Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. sentenced Jonathan Bethune (a/k/a “Lord Smitty”), 40, to 111 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Bethune pleaded guilty on January 7, 2025.
According to court records, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents executed a search warrant at Bethune’s Biddeford residence. From a safe, agents recovered a loaded pistol, several baggies of cocaine, approximately 159 grams of cocaine, and $6,820 in cash. Agents also recovered additional firearms from the residence. Bethune possessed the pistol to protect himself, his drugs, and his drug proceeds. Bethune was a convicted felon at the time and therefore prohibited from possessing firearms.
HSI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case.
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New Jersey Woman Pleads Guilty to Depositing Counterfeit Treasury CheckRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A New Jersey woman, formerly of Westbrook, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Portland to presenting a counterfeit government check to her credit union.
According to court records, Palwasha Shir, 35, was the sole owner of the Selfie Room LLC, a business Shir registered in Maine. Shir opened a checking account for the Selfie Room at a credit union in Maine. In July 2024, Shir deposited a counterfeit Treasury check made payable to the Selfie Room in the amount of $291,203. In August 2024, Shir deposited a counterfeit Treasury check made payable to the Selfie Room in the amount of $193,107. The serial numbers and amounts on the checks matched those of genuine tax refund checks issued by the IRS to entities other than the Selfie Room and unrelated to Shir. The counterfeit checks changed the payee and address to make the checks payable to the Selfie Room. When a representative of the credit union called Shir to discuss the checks, Shir falsely claimed that she received the checks from the IRS.
Shir faces up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release. She will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
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New Gloucester Man Sentenced for Illegally Possessing a HandgunRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A New Gloucester man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Chief U.S. District Judge Lance E. Walker sentenced Shawn Small, 29, to 93 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Small pleaded guilty on January 16, 2026.
According to court records, officers with the Scarborough Police Department responded to a tip that Small was attempting to sell a pistol to another individual. Officers then located Small at a business in Scarborough. They approached and attempted to detain him but he physically resisted. During the ensuing struggle, officers removed a pack from his person. Inside that pack, officers located a Smith & Wesson pistol with a loaded magazine. Small was a convicted felon at the time and on probation for a state robbery conviction.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated this case, with the assistance of the Scarborough Police Department and State of Maine Division of Adult Community Corrections.
Operation Take Back America: This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
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Mexican Illegal Alien Sentenced for Illegally Reentering the CountryRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Mexican man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Bangor for reentering the United States after three prior removals.
U.S. District Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr., sentenced Miguel Alfonzo Tapia-Gonzalez, 39, to time served. He pleaded guilty on April 24, 2026.
According to court records, on March 8, 2026, a U.S. Border Patrol Agent conducted a field inspection of two individuals he encountered in a commercial parking lot in Augusta. One of the men, later identified as Tapia-Gonzalez, acknowledged that he was a Mexican citizen and was in the country unlawfully. The agent transported Tapia-Gonzalez to the U.S. Border Patrol Station in Rangeley where it was discovered that he had been removed from the U.S. in 2015, 2018 and 2019.
The U.S. Border Patrol investigated the case.
Operation Take Back America: This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
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Illegal Alien from England Pleads Guilty to Entering the US Without Inspection and Lying to Federal InvestigatorsRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A citizen of the United Kingdom pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Bangor to entering the United States without inspection and lying to federal investigators.
According to court records, Mohammed Sultan Saleh, 21, and three other men walked through the heavily wooded border between Quebec and Somerset County during the pre-dawn hours of April 3, 2026. Their point of entry was within a few hundred yards of the Saint Zacharie, Maine port of entry that was manned by agents of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations (“OFO”). Upon exiting the woods, Saleh and his companions began walking down the Golden Road heading east.
Passersby in the area reported to an OFO agent seeing the four men walking east on the Golden Road. The OFO agent reported the sighting to the U.S. Border Patrol (“USBP”) station in Jackman. A USBP agent and an OFO agent responded to the area of the sighting, located the four men and took them into custody without incident. When questioned about their citizenship, Saleh and his three companions stated they were citizens of the United Kingdom. The four were subsequently transported back to the Jackman Border Patrol station.
During subsequent questioning by FBI and USBP agents, Saleh maintained that he had not intentionally entered the United States. He falsely claimed that he and his friends were on a hike in Canada and had accidentally crossed into the U.S.
On the false statement charge, Saleh faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. On the illegal entry charge, he faces up to six months in prison and a $5,000 fine. Saleh will be sentenced following the preparation of a presentence investigation report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.
USBP, OFO, Homeland Security Investigations, and the FBI investigated the case.
Operation Take Back America: This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
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Bangor Man Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud Conspiracy and Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Bangor man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Bangor to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft.
According to court records, between July and October 2024, Scott Bagley, 61, conspired with others to fraudulently obtain money by entering banks, impersonating legitimate bank account holders, and using fictitious identification cards to gain access to their bank accounts and withdraw funds. Through fraud, Bagley was able to obtain approximately $85,100 from customer accounts. During the investigation, law enforcement seized a fictitious Maine driver’s license in the name of a law enforcement officer with Bagley’s image on it.
Bagley faces up to 30 years in prison, a maximum fine of $1 million, and up to five years of supervised release on the bank fraud charges. For aggravated identity theft, he faces a mandatory prison term of two years, consecutive to any other sentence imposed, a $250,000 fine, and up to one year of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI investigated the case with assistance from the Bangor Police Department, Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, and Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles – Enforcement Services Division.
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Former Ellsworth Woman Sentenced for Drug and Money Laundering ChargesRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A former Ellsworth woman was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Bangor for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine, and conspiracy to engage in money laundering.
U.S. District Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. sentenced Jenna Garniss, 33, to 61 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Garniss pleaded guilty on June 27, 2025.
According to court records, between 2022 and 2023, co-conspirator Alex Hanna arranged with a California-based source of supply, co-conspirator Codee Houston, to obtain and ship pounds of methamphetamine to Hancock County. Garniss and others in the Ellsworth area distributed the drug and returned drug proceeds to Hanna. Garniss, at Hanna’s direction, wired some of the funds to Houston, resulting in the money laundering charge.
On October 10, 2025, Codee Houston was sentenced to 14 years in prison and five years of supervised release. On March 6, 2025, Alex Hanna was sentenced to 11½ years in prison and five years of supervised release.
The FBI, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office, and the Ellsworth, Holden, and Bangor police departments all participated in the investigation.
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Chelsea Man Pleads Guilty to Making False StatementsRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Chelsea man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Bangor to making false statements to a federal official.
According to court records, in March 2025, cameras were found in the ceilings of sleeping quarters in the firehouse on the Togus VA Medical Center campus in Chelsea. During an investigation conducted by the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General (VA OIG), Michael Nicholas, 47, repeatedly denied that he had seen the cameras, that he knew the cameras were installed in the ceilings, or that he had ever purchased any cameras of that brand. The investigation subsequently revealed that Nicholas had purchased and installed the cameras, including finding his fingerprint on the underside of tape on one of the cameras. Nicholas later admitted he had purchased and installed the cameras.
Nicholas faces up to five years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
VA OIG investigated the case.
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Topsham Fugitive Sentenced for Failing to SurrenderRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Topsham man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for failing to surrender for service of a sentence imposed in a prior case.
Chief U.S. District Judge Lance E. Walker sentenced Christopher Tucker, 34, to 37 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Tucker pleaded guilty on February 17, 2026.
According to court records, at a September 2025 hearing in U.S. District Court in Maine, Tucker was sentenced to a term of 75 months in prison for firearms offenses. Tucker was permitted to remain out on release and to self-surrender to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons at a later date but he failed to surrender as ordered. The U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) subsequently located and arrested Tucker in Bath.
Tucker’s sentence will be served consecutively to the 75-month sentence imposed in the firearms case.
The USMS investigated the case.
Texas Man Sentenced for Pandemic Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Katy, Texas man pleaded guilty and was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
Chief U.S. District Judge Lance E. Walker sentenced Currin Caridine, 39, to 41 months in prison to be followed by three years supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $476,420 in restitution to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).
According to court records, from June 2020 through September 2021, Caridine conspired with others to file false and fraudulent applications for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans. Caridine filed four fraudulent PPP loan applications for himself and received over $80,000. Caridine claimed to be the sole proprietor of non-existent businesses in the entertainment and management consulting industries. Caridine filed false tax returns with his applications. Caridine, who lived in Illinois at the time, filed false EIDL and PPP applications for others, including residents of Maine and New Hampshire. Caridine worked with a co-conspirator and New Hampshire resident, Tyree Jones, to recruit others interested in receiving loans. Jones collected applicants’ personal information, which Caridine used to file fraudulent applications. Jones and Caridine received kickbacks from the loan proceeds they obtained for others. The fraudulent applications resulted in the issuance of approximately $475,000 in EIDL and PPP loans.
Tyree Jones was previously sentenced to two years in prison for his role in the conspiracy.
IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case.
Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act: The Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act is a federal law enacted on March 29, 2020. It was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans who suffered economic effects resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act made EIDL funding available to business owners negatively affected by the COVID19 pandemic. EIDL proceeds were funded by the SBA and disbursed by the U.S. Treasury. EIDLs could only be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that could have been paid had the COVID19 disaster not occurred.
Paycheck Protection Program: The PPP was a COVID-19 pandemic relief program administered by the SBA that provided forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses. The PPP permitted participating third-party lenders to approve and disburse SBA-backed PPP loans to cover payroll, fixed debts, utilities, rent/mortgage, accounts payable and other bills incurred by qualifying businesses during, and resulting from, the COVID-19 pandemic. PPP loans were fully guaranteed by the SBA.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
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New Hampshire Drug Trafficker Pleads GuiltyRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Manchester, New Hampshire, man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Portland to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
According to court records, on January 19, 2025, Steven Jones, 46, was traveling in a vehicle that was reportedly driving erratically in York County. A Maine State Police trooper responded and found Jones and his companions parked in a restaurant parking lot. During the encounter, Jones got out of the car and a firearm slipped out of his waistband. He then fled the scene but was ultimately apprehended. Police recovered cocaine, methamphetamine, seven long knives, five firearms (including the one Jones dropped), as well as masks, gloves, tactical gear, and more than $3,000 in U.S. currency. Police later learned that Jones was the leader of a significant drug trafficking organization based in Manchester who was on his way to recover a drug debt—using the weapons and tactical gear he had brought with him—from a Maine-based drug associate.
Jones faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum sentence of 22 years in prison, a maximum fine of $10 million and a maximum supervised release term of life. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Maine State Police, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the FBI investigated the case.
Operation Take Back America: This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Windsor Man Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing FirearmRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Windsor man pleaded guilty on June 9, 2026, in U.S. District Court in Bangor to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court records, on September 1, 2024, a deputy with the Kennebec County Sheriff’s Office observed Shawn Merrill, 40, riding in a vehicle as a passenger. The deputy was aware that Merrill had a warrant for his arrest and was on state probation. After stopping the vehicle, the deputy searched it and located a pistol in the center console. Merrill admitted that his DNA and fingerprints would likely be on the firearm as he had previously handled it. Merrill is prohibited from possessing firearms as a result of prior felony convictions, including a Maine robbery conviction.
Merrill faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years, up to a $250,000 fine, and a term of supervised release of up to three years. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case with assistance from the Kennebec County Sheriff’s Office.
Project Safe Neighborhoods: This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psn.
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Old Town Man Sentenced for Drug Trafficking Conspiracy in Penobscot CountyRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: An Old Town man was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court in Bangor for his role in a conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, cocaine base, methamphetamine and cocaine.
U.S. District Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. sentenced Alan Dziob, 45, to 10 years and three months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release. Dziob pleaded guilty on September 15, 2025.
According to court records, between January and April 2021, Dziob conspired with others to distribute the drugs in the Penobscot County area and elsewhere. As part of the conspiracy, Dziob regularly supplied drugs to a local dealer to sell for him.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and Somerset County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
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Kennebec County Man Sentenced for Accessing Online Child PornographyRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A China, Maine man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Bangor for accessing child pornography with intent to view.
U.S. District Judge Stacey D. Neumann sentenced Jeffery Furlong, 54, to 30 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. Furlong pleaded guilty on September 5, 2025.
According to court records, in June 2024, the Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit began investigating a CyberTip from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) regarding Kik, a free instant messaging mobile app. According to the CyberTip, a Kik user, later identified as Furlong, uploaded multiple videos of child sexual abuse material. Investigators executed a search warrant at Furlong’s residence in October 2024. During the warrant’s execution, Furlong admitted that he had obtained multiple images and videos of child sexual abuse material on his cellular telephone via Kik. A search warrant on Furlong’s Kik account revealed child sexual abuse material and Furlong’s expressed sexual interest in children 6-to-12 years old.
Homeland Security Investigations and the Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit investigated the case.
To report an incident involving the possession, distribution, receipt or production of child sexual abuse material: Child sexual abuse material – referred to in legal terms as "child pornography" – captures the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. These images document victims’ exploitation and abuse, and they suffer revictimization every time the images are viewed. In 2023, NCMEC received 36 million reports of the possession, manufacture, or distribution of child sexual abuse materials. To file a report with NCMEC, go to https://report.cybertip.org or call 1-800-843-5678. If you are in Maine and you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted or abused, you can get help by calling the free, private 24-hour statewide sexual assault helpline at 1-800-871-7741.
Project Safe Childhood: This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psc.
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Brewer Man Sentenced for Assault on Cruise ShipRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Brewer man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Bangor for assault.
U.S. District Judge Stacey D. Neumann sentenced John Kelleher, 46, to 12 months in prison to be followed by one year of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $360 in restitution. Kelleher pleaded guilty on January 6, 2026.
According to court records, in December 2024, Kelleher and the victim, his then-girlfriend, were traveling together on an international cruise. At that time, Kelleher was on state probation in Maine and was not supposed to leave the state without permission or consume alcohol. On about December 19, 2024, while onboard the cruise ship, Kelleher physically assaulted the victim by biting her and punching her. While on the cruise, Kelleher had been drinking heavily.
The FBI investigated the case.
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Bangor Man Sentenced for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Bangor man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Bangor for possessing fentanyl with intent to distribute.
U.S. District Judge Stacey D. Neumann sentenced Andrew Marin, 38, to 12 months and one day in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Marin pleaded guilty on September 10, 2025.
According to court records, Marin was found in possession of drugs he received from Massachusetts fentanyl suppliers in April of 2024. Evidence, such as phone records, indicated Marin had been regularly obtaining fentanyl from these same suppliers and distributing drugs in the Bangor area.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration investigated this case, with the assistance of the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency and Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office.
Operation Take Back America: This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
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Illegal Alien from England Pleads Guilty to Entering the US Without Inspection and Lying to Federal InvestigatorsRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A citizen of the United Kingdom pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Bangor to entering the United States without inspection and lying to federal investigators.
According to court records, Hameed Mohammed Nagi, 21, and three other men walked through the heavily wooded border between Quebec and Somerset County during the pre-dawn hours of April 3, 2026. Their point of entry was within a few hundred yards of the Saint Zacharie, Maine port of entry that was manned by agents of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations (“OFO”). Upon exiting the woods, Nagi and his companions began walking down the Golden Road heading east.
Passersby in the area reported to an OFO agent seeing the four men walking east on the Golden Road. The OFO agent reported the sighting to the U.S. Border Patrol (“USBP”) station in Jackman. A USBP agent and an OFO agent responded to the area of the sighting, located the four men and took them into custody without incident. When questioned about their citizenship, Nagi and his three companions stated they were citizens of the United Kingdom. The four were subsequently transported back to the Jackman Border Patrol station.
During subsequent questioning by FBI and USBP agents, Nagi maintained that he had not intentionally entered the United States. He falsely claimed that he and his friends were on a hike in Canada and had accidentally crossed into the U.S.
On the false statement charge, Nagi faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. On the illegal entry charge, he faces up to six months in prison and a $5,000 fine. Nagi will be sentenced following the preparation of a presentence investigation report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.
USBP, OFO, Homeland Security Investigations, and the FBI investigated the case.
Operation Take Back America: This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
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Bradley Man Sentenced for Bank Fraud Conspiracy and Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Bradley man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Bangor for conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft.
U.S. District Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. sentenced Darren Deorsey, 51, to 13 months of imprisonment, followed by 5 years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $16,900 in restitution. Deorsey pleaded guilty on November 6, 2025.
According to court records, between July and October 2024, Deorsey conspired with others to fraudulently obtain money by entering banks, impersonating legitimate bank account holders, and using fictitious identification cards to gain access to their bank accounts and withdraw funds. Through fraud, Deorsey obtained a total of $16,900 from customer accounts, including a $5,000 cash advance on a home equity line of credit in the name of an account holder.
The FBI investigated the case with assistance from the Bangor Police Department, Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, and Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles – Enforcement Services Division.
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Indiana Man Sentenced for Assaulting Two Minors on an AircraftRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: An Indiana man was sentenced on June 3 in U.S. District Court in Portland for assaulting two minor females who were passengers on an aircraft while it was in flight.
U.S. District Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. sentenced Aidan J. Carter, 27, to 30 days in jail to be followed by five years of probation involving strict conditions, including completing a sex offender evaluation and any recommended treatment. Carter pleaded guilty on December 10, 2025.
According to court records, in December 2024, Carter was a passenger on a crowded aircraft flying to Portland. After take-off, he touched the thigh of a then 17-year-old female passenger seated next to him without her consent. After the 17-year-old victim pushed his hand away, Carter repeatedly reached across the aisle to grab and squeeze the upper thigh of a then 16-year-old female passenger whom he awoke from her sleep. Carter also reached in the direction of the 16-year-old female’s genitals.
The FBI and the Portland Police Department investigated the case.
Project Safe Childhood: This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psc.
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Portland Man Pleads Guilty to Receiving and Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Portland man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Portland to receiving and possessing child sexual abuse material.
According to court records, Jody G. Moczara, 45, while residing in a halfway house, obtained a cellular telephone that he used to solicit child sexual abuse material over the internet. In March 2025, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) obtained a search warrant for the cellular telephone, on which investigators located hundreds of image and video files of child sexual abuse material. HSI also located numerous chat conversations related to child exploitation activity, including one thread over a messaging application where Moczara sent Amazon gift cards as payment for the sexually explicit material. Moczara was previously convicted of receiving child pornography in U.S. District Court in Maine in 2016 and was sentenced to over 11 years in prison.
Moczara faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years, a maximum fine of $250,000, and a maximum supervised release term of life. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
HSI investigated the case.
To report an incident involving the possession, distribution, receipt or production of child sexual abuse material: Child sexual abuse material – referred to in legal terms as "child pornography" – captures the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. These images document victims’ exploitation and abuse, and they suffer revictimization every time the images are viewed. In 2023, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children received 36 million reports of the possession, manufacture, or distribution of child sexual abuse materials. To file a report with NCMEC, go to https://report.cybertip.org or call 1-800-843-5678. If you are in Maine and you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted or abused, you can get help by calling the free, private 24-hour statewide sexual assault helpline at 1-800-871-7741.
Project Safe Childhood: This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psc.
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Massachusetts Man Sentenced for February 2024 Saco Drive-By ShootingRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A New Bedford, Massachusetts man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for discharging a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime.
Chief U.S. District Judge Lance E. Walker sentenced Jason Johnson-Rivera (a/k/a “Ouda”), 20, to 10 years in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release. Johnson-Rivera pleaded guilty on January 23, 2026. Johnson‑Rivera’s codefendants, Joshua Estrada (aka “Mac”), 20, and Yancarlos Abrante (aka “Glizzy”), 22, pleaded guilty on September 25, 2025, and will be sentenced later this year.
According to court records, on February 9, 2024, Johnson-Rivera, Estrada and Abrante fired at least five rounds from a 9mm handgun into another vehicle as part of a dispute over drug territory. Shortly after they fired on their drug rivals and fled the scene, they drove their vehicle against traffic and through a red light, crashing into another passenger vehicle and a school bus, after which they fled the scene on foot. No one was seriously injured because of this incident. Court records reflect that Estrada, Abrante, and others had been trafficking cocaine in and around Saco and Biddeford since at least January 2024.
The Saco Police Department, FBI’s Southern Maine Gang Task Force, U.S. Border Patrol, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case with assistance from the New Bedford (Mass.) Police Department.
Project Safe Neighborhoods: This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psn.
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Lewiston Man Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking and Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Lewiston man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Portland to possessing with the intent to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine and more than 400 grams of fentanyl, and for using a firearm in furtherance of that crime.
According to court records, Muktar Abshir Aden, 27, sold drugs to law enforcement confidential sources and undercover officers on six occasions in 2024, culminating in an October 2024 search of his residence. Investigators recovered nearly three kilograms of methamphetamine and two kilograms of fentanyl, in addition to at least five firearms, one of which had previously been reported stolen.
Aden faces a mandatory minimum term of 15 years and up to life imprisonment; up to a $10 million fine; and up to a lifetime of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Homeland Security Investigations, the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, and the Lewiston Police Department investigated the case.
Project Safe Neighborhoods: This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psn.
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U.S. Attorney’s Office Presents Hometown Hero Award to Detective Sergeant Dayerrick IrelandRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: U.S. Attorney Andrew B. Benson this morning presented Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office Detective Sergeant Dayerrick Ireland with a U.S. Department of Justice/United States Attorney’s Office “Hometown Hero Award” during a ceremony held at the United States Attorney’s Office in Bangor. Ireland received the award in front of his family and Sheriff’s Office command staff.
The Hometown Hero award commemorates the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States of America. Every U.S. Attorney in the country chose one recipient of the award, which honors the many contributions local law enforcement officers make to preserving and improving their communities and protecting their fellow citizens. The award honors the enduring ideals of service and civic responsibility and is bestowed in recognition of the brave men and women who exemplify steadfast commitment to these ideals and embody the spirit upon which our nation was founded.
U.S. Attorney Benson noted during his remarks that local law enforcement officers play a vital role in protecting Maine communities but acknowledged that these occupations involve long hours and tremendous sacrifice not only for the officers but for their family and friends.
Detective Sergeant Ireland is currently assigned to the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division and has been with the Sheriff’s Office since 2022. In 2025, Det. Sgt. Ireland was selected as a full-time FBI Task Force Officer. During his time with the Sheriff’s Office and FBI, he has investigated child sexual assault/child pornography cases, fatal accidents, police-involved shootings, homicides, and many other felony-level crimes. Det. Sgt. Ireland’s tireless investigative efforts have led to the arrests and convictions of numerous individuals, both in Maine and in other states, who have engaged in acts of child sexual exploitation. Earlier this year, Det. Sgt. Ireland was recognized at the Maine Sheriffs’ Association award dinner as Deputy of the Year.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office is proud to present this award to Dayerrick Ireland, and pleased that he could receive it in the company of his family and colleagues,” U.S. Attorney Benson said. “His work on behalf of some of the most vulnerable victims in our communities highlights the difference that one committed public servant can make.”
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Illegal Alien from England Sentenced for Entering the US Without InspectionRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A citizen of the United Kingdom was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Bangor for entering the United States without inspection.
U.S. Magistrate Judge John C. Nivison sentenced Ibrahim Ayyub Khan, 27, to time served. Khan pleaded guilty on May 5, 2026.
According to court records, Khan and three other men walked through the heavily wooded border between Quebec and Somerset County during the pre-dawn hours of April 3, 2026. Their point of entry was within a few hundred yards of the Saint Zacharie, Maine port of entry that was manned by agents of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations (“OFO”). Upon exiting the woods, Khan and his companions began walking down the Golden Road heading east.
Passersby in the area reported to an OFO agent seeing the four men walking east on the Golden Road. The OFO agent reported the sighting to the U.S. Border Patrol (“USBP”) station in Jackman. A USBP agent and an OFO agent responded to the area of the sighting, located the four men and took them into custody without incident. When questioned about their citizenship, Khan and his three companions stated they were citizens of the United Kingdom. The four were subsequently transported back to the Jackman Border Patrol station.
USBP, OFO, Homeland Security Investigations, and the FBI investigated the case.
Operation Take Back America: This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
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