District of Maine
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
North Anson Man Faces Mandatory Minimum 5+ Years for Fentanyl Trafficking in Somerset CountyRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A North Anson man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Bangor to possessing fentanyl with intent to distribute.
According to court records, in January 2023, Cody Mosher, 29, led law enforcement on a high-speed chase through Norridgewock and Madison. When Mosher was apprehended, officers located approximately 758.91 grams of fentanyl, 21 grams of cocaine, a substantial amount of cash, and more than 300 pills in the vehicle. Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid that is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. Just 2 mg of fentanyl is considered a lethal dose; the amount seized represented more than 379,000 lethal doses.
Mosher faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 40 years in prison and a fine up to $5 million, followed by a minimum of four years 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 U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
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Career Offender Sentenced to 9 Years for Fentanyl Trafficking in Waterville AreaRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Waterville man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Bangor for possessing fentanyl with intent to distribute.
U.S. District Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. sentenced Patrick Hanson, 32, to 110 months in prison followed by six years of supervised release. Hanson pleaded guilty on November 3, 2022.
According to court records, in October 2021, officers with the Waterville Police Department arrested Hanson after receiving information that he had threatened another individual. After his arrest, Hanson was found to have a total of seven packages of suspected narcotics on his person or in his immediate possession, including one package that he had kicked under a door while at the police station. In total, police seized approximately 43 grams of a mixture containing fentanyl. Just 2 mg of fentanyl is considered a lethal dose. Hanson was convicted in 2013 for conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute oxycodone and 500 grams or more of cocaine. Judge Woodcock found him to be a career offender under the federal sentencing guidelines, which subjected him to a higher advisory guideline sentence.
The Waterville Police Department, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, and Kennebec County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. The Kennebec County District Attorney’s Office also assisted with the case.
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Former Arizona Man Pleads Guilty to Stealing Mainers’ Identities as Part of Unemployment Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A former Arizona man pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Portland today to six counts of wire fraud and six counts of aggravated identity theft.
According to court records, from January to November 2020, James McAuliffe, 55, filed false claims for unemployment insurance (UI) benefits. McAuliffe filed fraudulent applications for UI payments with the Maine Department of Labor, Bureau of Unemployment Compensation using others’ personal identifying information without their knowledge and consent. As a part of the scheme, he caused fraudulent applications for replacement drivers licenses to be filed with the Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles and changed the drivers’ mailing addresses, using the falsified licenses as proof of identification in support of the fraudulent UI claims. McAuliffe had the UI benefits loaded onto debit cards and wired into an account he opened in another person’s name and withdrew the funds at ATMs in Arizona. At the time of his arrest, McAuliffe was living in Kansas.
McAuliffe faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to a $250,000, followed by up to three of supervised release on each count of wire fraud. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of two years in prison on the aggravated identity theft counts, which must be served consecutively to the sentence imposed on the wire fraud counts. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation 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 U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated the case.
“The prosecution of Mr. McAuliffe is one of numerous cases brought by the Department of Justice nationwide to bring to justice those who sought to exploit COVID-19 relief fund programs,” said U.S. Attorney Darcie N. McElwee. “The important work of identifying and prosecuting anyone who stole taxpayer funds set aside for pandemic aid remains a priority for my office and Maine’s federal law enforcement agencies.”
“James McAuliffe engaged in a scheme to fraudulently obtain unemployment insurance funds by using the stolen identities of Maine residents and others. McAuliffe stole benefits set aside by the federal government to assist American workers struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to safeguard Department of Labor programs from those who seek to exploit them,” said Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent-in-Charge, Northeast Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General.
Coordinated, nationwide enforcement action to combat COVID-19 fraud: On August 23, 2023 the Justice Department announced the results of a coordinated, nationwide enforcement action to combat COVID-19 fraud, which included 718 enforcement actions – including federal criminal charges against 371 defendants – for offenses related to over $836 million in alleged COVID-19 fraud. The Justice Department has now seized over $1.4 billion in COVID-19 relief funds that criminals had stolen and charged over 3,000 defendants with crimes in federal districts across the country. Many of the cases in the enforcement action involve charges related to pandemic unemployment insurance benefit fraud and fraud against the two largest pandemic Small Business Administration programs: the Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury Disaster Loans. Additional matters involved pandemic healthcare billing fraud, fraud against the Emergency Rental Assistance program, and fraud committed against the IRS Employee Retention Credit program (ERC), a refundable tax credit for businesses and tax-exempt organizations that had employees and were affected during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Caribou Man Pleads Guilty for Role in Penobscot and Aroostook County Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Caribou man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Bangor for his role in a conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl.
According to court records, between January 2018 and December 2021, Jason Cunrod, 41, along with others, trafficked methamphetamine and fentanyl in Penobscot and Aroostook counties and elsewhere. Cunrod knowingly and intentionally joined and participated in the conspiracy.
To date, seven of the 21 defendants in this and related cases have been sentenced and nine of the remaining 14 defendants have pleaded guilty.
Cunrod faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine up to $1 million followed by three years to life 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 U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and Maine Drug Enforcement Agency investigated the case. Assistance was provided by the police departments in Orono, Bangor, Brewer, Caribou, Presque Isle and Houlton. U.S. Attorney Darcie McElwee also recognized the cooperation and coordination provided by the Maine State Attorney General’s Office and the Aroostook County District Attorney’s Office.
Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces: This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
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Repeat Offender Pleads Guilty to Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material after Downloading Hundreds of ImagesRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Lewiston man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Portland to possessing child sexual abuse material.
According to court records, in April 2023, a Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit learned that a computer at an IP address belonging to Mark A. Burns, 60, had shared a sexually explicit image of a child under the age of 6. Homeland Security Investigations agents executed a search warrant at Burns’ residence where Burns admitted that he had downloaded child sexual abuse material. A preliminary search of his tablet revealed that it contained hundreds of videos and images of children with ages ranging from infants to young teens engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
Burns was convicted in 2016 in a court of the State of Maine for possessing sexually explicit material involving a child under the age of 12. As a result of that prior conviction, Burns now faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and up to a lifetime of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation 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.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit investigated the case.
To report an incident involving the possession, distribution, receipt or production of child pornography: Child sexual abuse material – "child pornography" – captures the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. These images document victims’ exploitation and abuse, and they suffer re-victimization every time the images are viewed. File a report with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at https://report.cybertip.org/ or 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 www.justice.gov/psc.
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Registered Sex Offender Sentenced to 4 ½ Years for Possession of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Portland man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for possessing child sexual abuse material.
U.S. District Judge Nancy Torresen sentenced Richard T. Rich Jr., 55, to 54 months in federal prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release. Rich pleaded guilty on October 24, 2022.
According to court records, in May 2022, the Maine State Police (MSP) Computer Crimes Unit relayed to Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) that it was investigating Richard T. Rich Jr. for using the website Quora to solicit child sexual abuse material. After learning that Rich was a registered sex offender with prior convictions in New Jersey for aggravated sexual assault, possessing/viewing sexually explicit material and other offenses, an MSP detective and Rich’s Maine State Probation Officer visited the defendant’s Portland home and recovered numerous electronic devices that Rich was not authorized to possess. A subsequent analysis of those devices by HSI revealed child sexual abuse material.
During sentencing, Judge Torresen noted that while the defendant himself had not sexually abused the children depicted in the images, the continuing sexual abuse of the children “is fueled by your desire to see these images.”
The Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit and Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case.
To report an incident involving the possession, distribution, receipt or production of child pornography: Child sexual abuse material – "child pornography" – captures the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. These images document victims’ exploitation and abuse, and they suffer re-victimization every time the images are viewed. File a report with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at https://report.cybertip.org/ or 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 www.justice.gov/psc.
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Interaction with Undercover Agent in an Online Chatroom for Kids Leads to Prison Sentence for Canton ManRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Canton man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for attempting to transfer obscene material to a minor.
U.S. District Judge Nancy Torresen sentenced Dale Carr, 52, to 21 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Carr pleaded guilty on January 24, 2023.
According to court records, in September 2019, Carr began chatting with an undercover FBI agent posing as a 13-year-old girl in an online chatroom designed for children aged 16 and under. Over the course of the next several weeks, Carr repeatedly asked the agent, who he believed was an underage girl, for sexually explicit photos and expressed an interest in having sex with her. In October 2019, he sent the undercover agent a close-up photograph of his penis.
The FBI investigated the case.
Online enticement is increasing: The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) reported an alarming 97.5% increase in online enticement reports between 2019 and 2020. “Online enticement” involves an individual communicating with someone believed to be a child via the internet with the intent to commit a sexual offense or abduction. This type of victimization takes place across every platform, including social media, messaging apps, gaming platforms, etc. Learn more about online enticement, including red flags and risk factors, at www.missingkids.org/theissues/onlineenticement.
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 www.justice.gov/psc.
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Etna Man Found Guilty of Using Deceased Brother’s Identity for DecadesRead the Press Release
BANGOR Maine: An Etna man was found guilty on Friday, August 18 of one count of identity theft, two counts of passport fraud, two counts of Social Security fraud and one count of mail fraud following a two-day trial before Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. in U.S. District Court in Bangor.
According to court records, beginning in the mid-1960s, Napoleon Gonzalez, 86, took on the identity of his brother, Guillermo Gonzalez, who had died as an infant in 1939. Over the years, Gonzalez obtained multiple passports bearing his brother’s name, most recently in October 2017, a passport he used to travel to Canada in July 2018. In 1981, Gonzalez applied for a Social Security number in his deceased brother’s name and filed applications for Social Security retirement benefits in his own name in 1999 and in his brother’s name in 2001.
Gonzalez collected retirement benefits under both identities until March 2020, when investigators requested the suspension of benefits being paid to Guillermo Gonzalez pending investigation. Gonzalez mailed a letter to the Social Security Administration, signing the name Guillermo Gonzalez and the Social Security number assigned to that identity, asking for an explanation for the suspension. In the letter, he requested a prompt reply, claiming that due to the on-going COVID-19 pandemic, he was locked in his apartment, unable to drive and dependent on neighbors to obtain food and other items. Gonzalez also obtained Maine state identification cards under both his own identity and his brother’s. In recorded statements, Gonzalez claimed that he took on his deceased brother’s identity at the direction of the Air Force’s Office of Special Investigations and that he was legally allowed to use both identities.
Gonzalez faces up to five years in prison on the Social Security fraud charges, up to 10 years on the passport fraud charges, up to 15 years on the identity theft charge, and up to 20 years on the mail fraud charge. He also faces a fine of up to $250,000 and up to three years of supervised release on all charges. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.
The Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General, the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, and the Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles Division of Enforcement, Anti-Theft and Regulations investigated this case.
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Corinna Counselor Pleads Guilty to Defrauding MaineCare Using Falsified Treatment RecordsRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Corinna woman pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Bangor today to false statements involving a health care benefit program.
According to court records, between April and December 2020, April McKinney, known professionally as April Taylor, 46, falsified appointment details and session notes in therapy service records. McKinney used the falsified records to bill and receive funds from MaineCare. MaineCare is funded primarily by the federal government which pays approximately two-thirds of all reimbursed claims. The deceitful act of submitting falsified information led to the misuse of taxpayer dollars through reimbursements higher than warranted by any actual patient care given.
McKinney faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. She will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.
The FBI investigated the case.
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Lowell, Maine Man Sentenced to 3 Years for CyberstalkingRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Lowell, Maine man was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Portland for cyberstalking.
U.S. District Judge Nancy Torresen sentenced Jonathan Trayes, 34, to 36 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Trayes pleaded guilty on September 26, 2022.
According to court records, Trayes was involved in a brief relationship with the victim which ended when Trayes was arrested for violating conditions of release after the victim accused him of physical assault. Trayes eventually pleaded guilty in state court to domestic assault with priors, violating conditions of release and aggravated assault and was sentenced to five years of incarceration with all but two years suspended followed by four years of probation.
Beginning shortly after his release, Trayes began posting embarrassing, sexually graphic images and videos of the victim online, including identifying information including the victim’s name and what he believed was the victim’s address. The harassment continued for more than a year, leading the victim to reach out to the FBI.
The FBI conducted the investigation.
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Career Criminal Sentenced to 4+ Years in Prison for Fentanyl, Cocaine Trafficking in Androscoggin CountyRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: An Auburn man was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Portland today for trafficking both fentanyl and cocaine base in and around Androscoggin County.
U.S. District Judge Nancy Torresen sentenced Zachery Paradis (aka “Pee Wee”), 41, to 51 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Paradis pleaded guilty on December 1, 2022.
According to court records, in March 2022, the FBI conducted a controlled buy of narcotics from Paradis, purchasing 10 grams of fentanyl. During the exchange, which was captured on video and audio recording, Paradis bragged of multiple other crimes including being involved in a 2021 shooting in Lewiston. In April 2022, a second controlled buy of approximately 12.8 grams of cocaine base took place. A career criminal, Paradis has at least ten convictions as an adult, including two past federal convictions for firearms offenses.
The FBI’s Southern Maine Gang Task Force, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Lewiston Police Department and Auburn Police Department investigated the case.
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Maine Woman Faces Prison After Trading Use of Her Avon Residence to Traffickers for DrugsRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Franklin County woman pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Bangor to using and maintaining a drug premises, possessing fentanyl and cocaine base with intent to distribute, and aiding and abetting.
According to court records, between March 2020 and July 2020, Brandice Dotolo, 40, allowed her Avon residence to be used for the use and distribution of heroin and cocaine base, commonly known as “crack,” in exchange for drugs. Law enforcement seized approximately 85 grams of a mixture of heroin and fentanyl and 40 grams of crack during the execution of a search warrant at the residence.
Dotolo faces up to 20 years in prison, a fine not to exceed $500,000, and supervised release for at least three years and up to life. 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.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Maine Drug Enforcement Agency and Franklin County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
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Stolen Check Scheme Leads to Bank Fraud Sentence for Georgia ManRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: An Atlanta, Georgia man was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Portland today for conspiracy to commit bank fraud.
Chief U.S. District Judge Jon D. Levy sentenced Mantavious Jones, 35, to 16 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Jones pleaded guilty on March 23, 2023.
According to court records, in March 2022, Jones and coconspirators stole checks out of the mailboxes of local businesses then used the stolen checks to create counterfeit checks. The counterfeit checks were made payable to unhoused individuals Jones and others recruited to cash them. Jones and his coconspirators netted just under $70,000 from the cashed counterfeit checks.
The New England Cyber Fraud Task Force and Kennebunk Police Department investigated the case with valuable assistance from the Saco and Scarborough police departments.
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USPS Employee Pleads Guilty to Theft of MailRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Portland man employed by the U.S. Postal Service pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Portland to theft of mail by an officer or employee.
According to court records, from February 2022 through May 2022, Andrew Fossett, 45, stole and destroyed mail to steal gift cards, scratch tickets and money. Video surveillance showed Fossett opening 128 envelopes, removing the contents from 12 envelopes and tearing up and throwing envelopes out of the postal vehicle 27 times. He also opened two parcels. Fossett admitted to the conduct during an interview and a search of his backpack and personal vehicle revealed two stolen gift cards and one stolen $5 scratch ticket.
Fossett faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, as well as 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 U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General investigated this case.
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Bangor Woman Pleads Guilty to Stealing More than $28,000 from Native American Tribal OrganizationRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Bangor woman pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Bangor to stealing from her employer, a tribal organization.
According to court records, between June 2017 and April 2021, Angelia Holt, 54, stole more than $28,000 from her employer by using a credit card issued to another employee for unauthorized personal expenses and then altering the invoices to conceal the theft. Holt was employed as an accounting clerk for the organization.
Holt faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. 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.
The FBI investigated the case.
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Penobscot County Man Sentenced to 13+ Years for Role in Penobscot and Aroostook County Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Penobscot County man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Bangor for his role in a conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl and for being an unlawful user of controlled substances in possession of a firearm.
U.S. District Judge Lance E. Walker sentenced Matthew Catalano (aka “Tampa”), 33, to 165 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release. He pleaded guilty on November 19, 2022.
According to court records, between January 2018 and December 2021, Catalano, along with others, trafficked methamphetamine and fentanyl in Penobscot and Aroostook counties and elsewhere. On February 17, 2021, Catalano was arrested by the Orono Police Department following a traffic stop during which he was found in possession of large amounts of methamphetamine and fentanyl, a loaded 9mm handgun and drug paraphernalia.
Catalano is the seventh participant involved in the northern Maine conspiracy to be sentenced. To date, eight of the remaining 14 defendants related to the case have pleaded guilty.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and Maine Drug Enforcement Agency investigated the case. Assistance was provided by the police departments in Orono, Bangor, Brewer, Caribou, Presque Isle and Houlton. U.S. Attorney Darcie McElwee also recognized the cooperation and coordination provided by the Maine State Attorney General’s Office and the Aroostook County District Attorney’s Office.
Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces: This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
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Theft of a Firearm from Main Street Pawn in Lincoln Leads to 2+ Year Prison Sentence for Bangor ManRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Bangor man was sentenced in federal court today for theft of a firearm from a licensed firearms dealer.
U.S. District Judge Lance E. Walker sentenced Jonathan Birtz, 40, to 27 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release.
According to court records, in July 2021, Birtz stole a .380 caliber pistol from Main Street Pawn in Lincoln. Security footage showed Birtz reaching over the counter to take the pistol and then concealing it in a folded blanket he was carrying.
The Lincoln Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case.
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Rumford Man Pleads Guilty to Employment Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Rumford man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Portland to willfully evading the payment of employment taxes.
According to court records, between 2013 and 2017, Jeffrey Richard, 48, willfully attempted to evade payment of employment withholding taxes owed by his company, Black Bear Industrial, Inc. Despite being aware of the company’s unpaid employment tax liability, Richard took a variety of steps to evade payment. He regularly used funds from Black Bear’s business bank account to make business and personal purchases, all while making no payments toward Black Bear’s tax liability. He also created two nominee companies and took steps to disguise his ownership of the companies. He falsely represented to an IRS revenue officer that he had anything to do with one of the companies. The other company did business and had over $174,000 of business income in 2017, but none of the money was used to pay the IRS. Richard never informed the IRS about the company, and the company never filed any corporate or employment tax returns.
Richard faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. 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.
IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case.
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Former Aroostook County Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Role in Penobscot and Aroostook County Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A man formerly from Aroostook County was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Bangor for his role in a conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl.
U.S. District Judge Lance E. Walker sentenced Andrew Adams, 31, to 10 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release.
According to court records, between January 2018 and December 2021, Adams, along with others, trafficked methamphetamine and fentanyl in Penobscot and Aroostook counties. His participation in the conspiracy resulted in contacts with local law enforcement that led to the seizure of drugs, firearms, drug paraphernalia and other items.
Adams is the sixth participant involved in the northern Maine conspiracy to be sentenced. To date, nine of the remaining 15 defendants related to the case have pleaded guilty.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and Maine Drug Enforcement Agency investigated the case. Assistance was provided by the police departments in Orono, Bangor, Brewer, Caribou, Presque Isle and Houlton. U.S. Attorney Darcie McElwee also recognized the cooperation and coordination provided by the Maine State Attorney General’s Office and the Aroostook County District Attorney’s Office.
Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces: This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
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Oxford Man Who Filmed Himself Sexually Abusing Two Young Children Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: An Oxford man was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Portland today for sexually exploiting two young children.
Chief U.S. District Judge Jon D. Levy sentenced Travis Kimball, 22, to 25 years in prison followed by 25 years of supervised release. Kimball pleaded guilty on January 17, 2023.
According to court records, in April 2022, Kimball sexually abused a young child, filming the abuse to create child sexual abuse material. In June 2022, Kimball sexually abused a toddler, again using his iPhone to capture and produce a video of the abuse.
“First, Travis Kimball committed the devastating act of sexually abusing trusting, young children, then went further to memorialize that abuse on video and attempt to capitalize on it by sharing the child sexual abuse material he produced with others,” U.S. Attorney Darcie N. McElwee said. “Mr. Kimball is a 22-year-old who will be a middle-aged man by the time he gets out of prison, but his traumatized young victims and their families will be dealing with the scars from his unconscionable acts far longer. My office will continue to use every tool at our disposal to bring to justice predators like Mr. Kimball who prey on Maine’s most vulnerable victims.”
The FBI investigated the case. U.S. Attorney McElwee praised the FBI for their quick action which resulted in limiting the distribution of the child sexual assault material and prevented additional victimizations.
To report an incident involving the possession, distribution, receipt or production of child pornography: Child sexual abuse material – "child pornography" – captures the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. These images document victims’ exploitation and abuse, and they suffer re-victimization every time the images are viewed. File a report with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at https://report.cybertip.org/ or 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 www.justice.gov/psc.
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Violent York Home Invasion Lands Hooksett, NH Man in Federal Prison for 12 YearsRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Hooksett, New Hampshire man was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Portland today for conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery and interference with commerce by violence. The charges stemmed from a violent home invasion in York, Maine.
Chief U.S. District Judge Jon D. Levy sentenced Derek DaPrato, 35, to 144 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. DaPrato pleaded guilty on December 28, 2022.
According to court records, in August 2019, DaPrato and three other co-conspirators met in Hooksett and planned a home invasion of a York residence to rob marijuana and marijuana sale proceeds from the home’s resident. The group traveled to the York residence where two co-conspirators, armed with handguns and wearing masks, waited in the woods for the victim to return home. When the victim arrived, accompanied by two others, a violent physical altercation ensued. During the fight, a firearm was discharged, and a bullet struck the victim in the lower abdomen. The two co-conspirators fled. Police arrived approximately 15 minutes later, and the victim was rushed to the hospital where he underwent surgery to remove a .45 caliber bullet from his lower abdomen.
FOUR CONSPIRATORS SENTENCED TO A TOTAL OF 44+ YEARS: On March 27, 2023, Jason Candelario, 34, was sentenced to 175 months in prison and Luis Carpio, 33, was sentenced to 120 months for their roles in the home invasion. On March 17, 2023, the fourth co-conspirator, Andrew Soboleski, 30, was sentenced to 96 months for his role in the crime. All four men resided in New Hampshire.
The FBI, in conjunction with the York Police Department and the York County Sheriff’s Office, investigated the case.
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Fort Lauderdale Man Sentenced to 5+ Years for Bank Fraud, ID Theft and Firearms Offenses in Maine, Florida and OregonRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Fort Lauderdale, Florida man was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Portland yesterday for conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud, aggravated identity theft and unlawful possession of a firearm.
U.S. District Judge Nancy Torresen sentenced Leonardo Cameron, 28, to 61 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Cameron pleaded guilty on November 28, 2022.
According to court records, in November 2020, Cameron and coconspirators broke into unattended vehicles in southern Maine and New Hampshire and stole personal identifying information, such as driver’s licenses and checkbooks. They then used the identifications to cash stolen checks using multiple bank drive-through lanes in southern Maine. As part of the scheme, checks from one theft victim’s account were made payable to another identity theft victim, and another coconspirator impersonated the identity theft victims to cash the stolen checks.
In July 2020, Cameron engaged in similar conduct in Oregon with different coconspirators. In April 2021, when he was arrested in Florida for the Oregon federal bank fraud and identity theft charges, he was found in possession of a firearm and ammunition. A prior felony conviction precluded Cameron from possessing firearms or ammunition. Cameron agreed to transfer jurisdiction over the Florida and Oregon charges to the District of Maine for the purpose of entering guilty pleas to all pending federal charges.
COCONSPIRATOR IN MAINE CASE SENTENCED TO 3 YEARS: On May 3, Travis Paige (aka “Travis McNair” or “Sway”), 26, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, was sentenced to three years in prison followed by three years of supervised release for conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud and aggravated identity theft for his part in the scheme.
The Eliot, Maine Police Department; the FBI in Portland, Maine; the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Portland, Oregon; and HSI in Fort Lauderdale, Florida investigated these cases.
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Man Pleads Guilty to Multiple Child Exploitation OffensesRead the Press Release
A Maine man pleaded guilty today to sexual exploitation of children and distribution of a video depicting the sexual abuse of children.
According to court documents, Joseph Zoll, 63, of Sanford, used an online chat and webcam application from his home in Maine to direct an individual in the Philippines to live-stream a video of herself sexually abusing a prepubescent child. Zoll instructed this individual to, among other things, expose the child’s genitals to the camera for him to see and discussed with her his desire to sexually abuse the child. In another instance, Zoll sent this same individual a video depicting an adult woman sexually abusing a child who appeared to be approximately six to eight years old. Zoll communicated with this woman for over two years, during which time he repeatedly instructed her to live-stream video depictions of child sexual abuse. Video files found on electronic devices in Zoll’s home confirm that he had similar online relationships with multiple other individuals who, at Zoll’s direction would live-stream video depictions of themselves sexually abusing children for Zoll.
Zoll pleaded guilty to one count of sexual exploitation of children and one count of distribution of child pornography. He faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison and a maximum penalty of 50 years in prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Darcie N. McElwee for the District of Maine, and Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Krol of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New England made the announcement.
HSI New England is investigating the case.
Trial Attorney William G. Clayman of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig M. Wolff for the District of Maine are prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the 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, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Former Bangor Resident Sentenced to 7+ Years for Role in Penobscot and Aroostook County Drug Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A former Bangor resident was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Bangor for his role in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl in Penobscot and Aroostook counties.
U.S. District Judge Lance E. Walker sentenced Wayne Smith, 32, to 85 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release.
According to court records, between January 2018 and December 2021, Smith conspired with others to traffic methamphetamine and fentanyl in Penobscot and Aroostook counties. Miller knowingly and intentionally joined and participated in the conspiracy. His participation resulted in contacts with local law enforcement that resulted in the seizure of drugs, firearms, drug paraphernalia, and other items.
There are 21 defendants in this and related cases. Ten other defendants have pleaded guilty in this case, and four other participants in the conspiracy were sentenced in prior related cases. Six additional defendants have been charged; a charge in a criminal complaint or an indictment is merely an accusation, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and Maine Drug Enforcement Agency investigated the case. Assistance was provided by the police departments in Orono, Bangor, Brewer, Caribou, Presque Isle and Houlton. U.S. Attorney Darcie McElwee also recognized the cooperation and coordination provided by the Maine State Attorney General’s Office and the Aroostook County District Attorney’s Office.
Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces: This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
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Livermore Falls Man Who Repeatedly Concealed Employment and Assets Pleads Guilty to Theft of Public Money, FraudRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Livermore Falls man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Portland to Social Security fraud, health care fraud and theft of public money.
According to court records, from January 2017 through December 2020, Rick V. Greene, 56, concealed self-employed work and assets from the Social Security Administration (SSA) to maintain his eligibility to receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments. SSI benefits are paid to people with limited income who are blind, disabled or elderly. Greene also concealed his work activity and assets from the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (ME/DHHS) to maintain his eligibility to receive MaineCare and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, also needs-based programs.
In multiple benefit eligibility reviews, Greene falsely represented to SSA and ME/DHHS that his only income was from SSI, and he failed to report assets in the form of real property and vehicles. He did so knowing he was required to disclose the information and that it would affect his eligibility to receive benefits.
Greene faces up to five years in prison on the Social Security fraud and health care fraud charges and up to ten years on the theft of public money charge. He also faces a fine of up to $250,000 and up to three years of supervised release on all charges. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.
SSA’s Office of the Inspector General and ME/DHHS’s Fraud Investigation & Recovery Unit investigated this case.
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South Portland Man Charged for Threatening Federal OfficerRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: United States Attorney Darcie N. McElwee today announced that Nathaniel Curtisbrown, 28, of South Portland was charged by criminal complaint with intimidating or retaliating against a federal official by threat.
According to the criminal complaint, earlier this month, Curtisbrown sent multiple threatening emails to an FBI agent with the intent to retaliate against the agent for the performance of his official duties.
A charge in a criminal complaint is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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Two Mexican Nationals Plead Guilty to Entering the United States After Prior RemovalRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: In separate hearings, two Mexican nationals pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Bangor to entering the United States after a prior removal.
According to court records, in April 2023, Manuel Bonilla Davila, 38, and Eduardo Ruiz Rojas, 36, were each discovered by U.S. Border Patrol agents in Aroostook County, a short distance from the international boundary. Immigration records showed that both men had been previously removed from the U.S.—Davila in March 2011 in Texas and Rojas in September 2019 in Arizona. Neither man had obtained the express consent of the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to reapply for admission.
Davila and Rojas each face up to two years in prison and a $250,000 fine. They will be sentenced after the completion of presentence investigation reports by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district judge will determine any sentences after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The U.S. Border Patrol investigated the cases.
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Bangor Man Pleads Guilty After Discovery of 588g of FentanylRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Bangor man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Bangor to possessing fentanyl with the intent to distribute and aiding and abetting.
According to court records, in June 2022, based on information the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency had gathered during an investigation, a search warrant was obtained to search the vehicle of Chad Savage, 34. Agents found a large quantity of suspected heroin/fentanyl in the glove compartment. The substances were sent to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration lab and were confirmed to be more than 588 grams of fentanyl.
Savage faces at least 10 years and up to life in prison and a $10 million fine. 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 U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency investigated the case.
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Albion Man Pleads Guilty to Attempting to Purchase Firearms for Convicted Felon in PalmyraRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: An Albion man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Bangor to providing false information to a federal firearms dealer while purchasing firearms.
According to court records, in June 2018, Charles Viles, 31, knowingly made false statements to a licensed firearms dealer in Palmyra. Viles represented in writing that he was purchasing the firearms for himself despite knowing he was buying them for, and at the direction of, someone else. That person was a convicted felon and was therefore legally prohibited from purchasing or possessing firearms.
Viles faces up to five years in prison, a fine up to $250,000 and up to three years of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation 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 and the Massachusetts State Police investigated the case. The Middlesex County (Massachusetts) District Attorney’s Office also assisted in the investigation.
STRAW PURCHASING: A straw purchase is an illegal firearm purchase where the actual buyer of the gun, being unable to pass the required federal background check or desiring to not have his or her name associated with the transaction, uses a proxy buyer who can pass the required background check to purchase the firearm for him/her.
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Massachusetts Drug Courier Sentenced to 4 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Massachusetts man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for his role in a conspiracy to traffic fentanyl and cocaine from Lawrence, Mass. to the Sanford area, where it was further distributed by other members of the conspiracy.
U.S. District Judge George Z. Singal sentenced Franklin Frias, 58, to 48 months of imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release. Frias pleaded guilty on November 29, 2022.
According to court records, in November 2019, Frias was tasked by a drug dealer in Lawrence, Mass. known as “Junior,” to collect a drug debt from a local dealer in Sanford. Both Frias and “Junior” were unaware that the previous couriers had been intercepted by law enforcement, who had seized the most recent shipment to the Sanford dealer—approximately 50 grams of fentanyl and 107 grams of powder cocaine. When Frias arrived at the pre-determined location and stated that he was there to collect “Junior’s” money, he was arrested by agents of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
In imposing sentence, Judge Singal reflected on the gravity of the fentanyl epidemic, and how corrosive it has been to community and families in Maine.
The DEA, in partnership with the Maine State Police, investigated the case.
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Hollis Man on Release for Possessing Child Sexual Abuse Material Sentenced to 4 Years for Violating Conditions of ReleaseRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Hollis man who was previously convicted of possessing child sexual abuse material and perjury in 2014 was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for violating his conditions of supervised release.
U.S. District Judge George Z. Singal sentenced Joel Dudley, 39, to 48 months in prison and supervised release for life after finding that Dudley had violated previously imposed conditions of release by committing new crimes.
In 2014, Dudley was sentenced to eight years in prison followed by ten years of supervised release for possessing child sexual abuse materials and testifying falsely under oath during a court hearing. According to court records, while on supervised release in the spring of 2022, Dudley showed another convicted sex offender sexually explicit photographs of a minor victim. Dudley also fondled that same child in the parking lot of the Maine Mall. Finally, according to court records, the U.S. Probation Office discovered that he had been exchanging graphic sexual messages with the child over Facebook using an alias and having unapproved contact using electronic devices that he was prohibited from possessing. The U.S. Probation Office filed a petition to revoke Dudley’s term of supervised release in the fall of 2022.
A hearing was held over the course of three days. At the hearing’s conclusion, Judge Singal found that there was sufficient evidence to establish each of the charged violations. He also found that Dudley had perjured himself when he testified during the hearing, as well as during the sentencing phase of the hearing.
The sentence imposed by the Court was the maximum possible sentence that could be imposed for the charged violations. At sentencing, Judge Singal noted that he was imposing the maximum possible sentence because he “needed to protect the public from this defendant.”
The case was handled by U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services, with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations.
To report an incident involving the possession, distribution, receipt or production of child pornography: Child sexual abuse material – “child pornography” – captures the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. These images document victims’ exploitation and abuse, and they suffer re-victimization each time the images are viewed. File a report with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at https://report.cybertip.org/ or 1-800-843-5678. Your report will be forwarded to a law enforcement agency for investigation and action. If you have an emergency that requires an immediate law enforcement response, call 911 or contact your local police or sheriff’s department.
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 www.justice.gov/psc.
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Lubec Man Sentenced to 2+ Years for Stealing Firearms from Machias True Value, Threatening WitnessRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Lubec man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Bangor for stealing firearms from a federal firearms licensee, witness tampering and retaliating against a witness.
U.S. District Judge Lance E. Walker sentenced Jeremy C. Lyons, 29, to 33 months of imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay restitution. Lyons pleaded guilty on December 9, 2022.
According to court records, in October 2021, Lyons broke into Pineo’s True Value in Machias and stole three Colt pistols. Maine State Police Crime Laboratory testing matched Lyons’ DNA to a Gatorade bottle he left at the scene of the crime. Lyons became aware that he was a target in a federal criminal investigation involving his theft of the pistols. In July 2022, he threatened a confidential source who had provided information to federal law enforcement with bodily harm and later challenged the source to a fight. Lyons later asked the confidential source to testify for him in his case.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Maine State Police investigated the case, with invaluable assistance provided by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.
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Caribou Man Faces 10+ Years for Role in Penobscot and Aroostook County Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Caribou man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Bangor to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl.
According to court records, between January 2018 and December 2021, John Miller, 22, conspired with others to traffic methamphetamine and fentanyl in Penobscot and Aroostook counties. Miller knowingly and intentionally joined and participated in the conspiracy.
Miller is the eleventh defendant to plead guilty in this case; four other participants in the conspiracy were sentenced in prior related cases. Miller faces at least ten years and up to life imprisonment and a minimum of five 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 U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and Maine Drug Enforcement Agency investigated the case. Assistance was provided by the police departments in Orono, Bangor, Brewer, Caribou, Presque Isle and Houlton. U.S. Attorney Darcie McElwee also recognized the cooperation and coordination provided by the Maine State Attorney General’s Office and the Aroostook County District Attorney’s Office.
Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces: This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
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Bangor Man Sentenced to 5 Years for Conspiring to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Bangor man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for conspiring to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine.
U.S. District Judge Nancy Torresen sentenced Oliver Terilli, 25, to 60 months of imprisonment followed by four years of supervised release. Terilli pleaded guilty on September 7, 2022.
According to court records, in July 2021, Terilli and co-conspirators sold approximately 1,000 grams of methamphetamine to an undercover officer working with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Following the sale, DEA agents arrested Terilli and two co-conspirators on drug trafficking charges. DEA agents also recovered nearly 500 grams of additional methamphetamine that Terilli and a co-conspirator were receiving as part of the transaction.
In a series of communications leading up to the methamphetamine sale, Terilli offered to sell firearms along with the methamphetamine to the undercover officer. Terilli identified the firearms as including submachine guns and AK-47s. In July 2021, Terilli was the driver in a one-vehicle accident on I-95 near Clinton. Maine State Police troopers responded and seized multiple firearms from the vehicle, including an AK-47 rifle, two 9 mm pistols, a .380 caliber pistol and a 12-gauge shotgun. Terilli was arrested on state charges of operating under the influence and possession of a loaded firearm in a vehicle and was later released on bail. After his release, Terilli reestablished communication with the DEA undercover officer and completed the methamphetamine sale.
Co-conspirators Antonio Mazzola and Jeremy Hemingway have pleaded guilty and will be sentenced after the completion of presentence investigation reports by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district judge will determine any sentences after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
DEA’s Tactical Diversion Squad investigated the case, with assistance from the Maine State Police.
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Woodville Woman Faces up to 5 Years, $250K Fine for Social Security Fraud, Health Care Fraud and Theft of Public MoneyRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Woodville woman pleaded guilty yesterday in U.S. District Court in Bangor to Social Security fraud, health care fraud and theft of public money.
According to court records, from about January 2005 through March 2021, Rella Austin-Kimball, 51, concealed the presence of her husband in her household and her receipt of alimony payments following divorce from the Social Security Administration (SSA) to maintain her eligibility to receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments. SSI benefits are paid to people with limited income who are blind, disabled or elderly. Austin-Kimball also concealed her husband’s presence from the Maine Department of Health & Human Services (ME/DHHS) from about January 2005 to July 2017, during which time she received MaineCare and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Her concealment of her husband’s presence in her household also allowed her then-minor child to receive SSI benefits from about November 2006 through January 2015 and MaineCare and SNAP benefits through February 2013.
In multiple benefit eligibility reviews, Austin-Kimball falsely represented to the SSA and ME/DHHS that she and her husband had separated in January 2005 and had lived separately since that time. Following her divorce, she failed to disclose her receipt of alimony payments during eligibility reviews. She failed to disclose these events despite knowing that she was required to and that they would affect her eligibility to receive benefits for herself and on behalf of her son.
Austin-Kimball faces up to five years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release on the Social Security fraud and health care fraud charges. She faces up to 1 year in prison, a fine of up to $100,000, and up to one year of supervised release on the theft of public money charge. She will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation 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.
SSA’s Office of the Inspector General and ME/DHHS’s Fraud Investigation & Recovery Unit investigated the case.
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Former Bangor Man Faces up to 20 Years for Role in Penobscot and Aroostook County Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A former Bangor man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Bangor to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl.
According to court records, between January 2018 and December 2021, Christopher Coty, 42, conspired with others to traffic methamphetamine and fentanyl in Penobscot and Aroostook counties. Coty knowingly and intentionally joined and participated in the conspiracy.
Coty is the tenth defendant to plead guilty in this case; four other participants in the conspiracy were sentenced in prior related cases. Coty faces up to 20 years imprisonment. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation 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 U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and Maine Drug Enforcement Agency investigated the case. Assistance was provided by the police departments in Orono, Bangor, Brewer, Caribou, Presque Isle and Houlton. U.S. Attorney Darcie McElwee also recognized the cooperation and coordination provided by the Maine State Attorney General’s Office and the Aroostook County District Attorney’s Office.
Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces: This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
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Penobscot Man Faces up to 40 Years, $5M fine for Fentanyl TraffickingRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Penobscot man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Bangor to possessing fentanyl with the intent to distribute.
According to court records, in October 2021, Christopher Beaucage, 38, along with a co-conspirator, were stopped by a Bucksport police officer. After a search of the vehicle revealed approximately 60 grams of fentanyl, Beaucage admitted the fentanyl belonged to him and was arrested on outstanding warrants. While he was incarcerated, monitored and recorded phone calls revealed that Beaucage and others engaged in drug trafficking activities. Details discussed included traveling out of state to meet with a source, the prices of the narcotics and customers in Maine.
Beaucage faces up to 40 years in prison and a $5 million fine. 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 U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Maine Drug Enforcement Agency and Bucksport Police Department investigated the case.
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New York Man Sentenced to 2 Years for Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A New York man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Bangor for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
U.S. District Judge Lance E. Walker sentenced Camby Wilson, 22, to 24 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release.
According to court records, in March 2022, an officer with the Augusta Police Department stopped a vehicle in which Wilson was a passenger. Wilson provided officers with a false name and date of birth, and officers asked him to step out of the vehicle. When an officer asked him if he had any weapons on him, he ran away from the officers. They chased him on foot and were able to apprehend him after a brief pursuit. Officers found a loaded .380 caliber pistol in his jacket pocket. A 2019 conviction in New York precluded him from possessing a firearm.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Augusta Police Department investigated the case.
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Bangor Man Faces up to Life Following Guilty Plea to Drug and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Bangor man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Bangor to possessing controlled substances with the intent to distribute and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court records, in May 2022, officers with the Brewer Police Department responded to a call for a service and located Allen Henry, 48, in a parked vehicle. A record check revealed Henry had an active warrant for his arrest and active bail conditions stemming from a state charge. The bail conditions prohibited him from using or possessing any alcohol or illegal drugs. Upon conducting a bail check to ensure Henry was compliant with conditions, officers located more than 400 grams of fentanyl, approximately 30 grams of cocaine base and a firearm in his vehicle. Henry has a previous 2013 state conviction that prohibits him from possessing firearms.
Henry faces a maximum term of life imprisonment on the drug charge and up to ten years on the firearms charge. 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 U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, and the Brewer Police Department investigated this case.
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Mattawamkeag Man Sentenced to 4+ Years for Role Methamphetamine Trafficking, Unlawful Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
Mattawamkeag Man Sentenced to 4+ Years for Role Methamphetamine Trafficking, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm
BANGOR, Maine: A Mattawamkeag man was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Bangor today for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm by an unlawful user of a controlled substance.
U.S. District Judge Lance E. Walker sentenced Bruce McAlpine, 33, to 58 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release.
According to court records, between May and July 2018, McAlpine conspired with others to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. A coconspirator was obtaining large quantities of methamphetamine from Florida and distributing to locations between Bangor and Houlton. McAlpine agreed to use his home as a storage location to assist in the methamphetamine distribution efforts. In July 2018, the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency conducted a search warrant of McAlpine’s residence and recovered more than 1,000 grams of methamphetamine and multiple firearms.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency investigated the case.
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Massachusetts Man Sentenced to 9 ½ Years for York Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Massachusetts man was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Portland for robbing a Bangor Savings branch in York.
U.S. District Judge John A. Woodcock sentenced Brandon Simmons, 35, to 115 months of imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $7,162 in restitution to Bangor Savings Bank. Simmons pleaded guilty on September 27, 2022.
According to court records, on November 1, 2021, Simmons entered a Bangor Savings Bank in York, telling a teller that he had a bomb and demanding money. Simmons then grabbed cash from the teller’s drawer, left the bank and fled in a white work van.
Simmons was quickly identified as a suspect through the combined efforts of the FBI, York Police Department and law enforcement agencies in Massachusetts. Simmons was also identified as the suspect in the October 30, 2021, robbery of a CVS Pharmacy in Newburyport, Massachusetts.
From November 1-3, 2021, Simmons led police on a series of high-speed chases in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. In his attempts to avoid apprehension, he assaulted a police officer, attempted to carjack a civilian bystander, stole multiple vehicles and crashed his van into a truck driven by a bystander. Simmons was apprehended by Massachusetts State Police on November 3, 2021 at a hotel in Peabody, Massachusetts.
On May 10, 2023, Simmons pleaded guilty to Commonwealth of Massachusetts charges in connection with the robbery in Newburyport, as well as multiple charges related to his conduct while fleeing from police.
Arundel Resident Agrees to Pay over $330,000 to Settle Allegations of False Claims Act ViolationsRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: United States Darcie N. McElwee today announced that Gary S. Winn, D.O. of Arundel, has agreed to pay $330,607 to settle allegations that he had violated the False Claims Act.
The civil settlement agreement between Winn and the United States and the State of Maine resolves allegations that Winn, the former medical director and owner of a family medical practice in Biddeford and Sanford, Provider’s Care, submitted false claims to Medicare and MaineCare (Maine’s Medicaid program) from January 2014 through November 2017. MaineCare is funded primarily by the federal government, which pays approximately two-thirds of all reimbursed claims.
On April 27, 2023, the United States filed a Complaint against Winn in the United States District Court for the District of Maine. As alleged in the Complaint, Medicare and MaineCare statutes, regulations and guidelines make clear that participating providers may only bill for services actually provided and which are medically reasonable and necessary. The United States and Maine contended in their Complaint that from January 2014 through November 2017, Winn knowingly submitted to Medicare and MaineCare claims for payment for medical services that were not provided or were not medically reasonable or necessary, including osteopathic manipulation treatment (OMT) services, evaluation and management services, tobacco use cessation counseling visits, outpatient visits, and patient drug testing services.
The Complaint against Winn was brought by the United States pursuant to the False Claims Act (FCA), as well as Maine’s false claims statute. The FCA provides that any person who “knowingly presents, or causes to be presented, a false or fraudulent claim for payment or approval” or “knowingly makes, uses, or causes to be made or used, a false record or statement material to a false or fraudulent claim” is liable to the United States for three times the amount of damages which the United States sustains, plus a civil penalty for each FCA violation. As alleged in the Complaint, by submitting claims for payment for medical services that were not provided or were not medically reasonable or necessary, Winn violated the FCA.
The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Office of Inspector General, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine, and the Office of the Maine Attorney General investigated the case. The civil action is docketed United States & State of Maine v. Gary S. Winn, 23-cv-00186-JDL (D. Me.).
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Readout of Attorney General Merrick B. Garland’s Visit to the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of MaineRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: U.S. Attorney Darcie N. McElwee today hosted Attorney General Merrick B. Garland at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Portland. The Attorney General met with the staff of U.S. Attorney’s Office as well as representatives from federal, state and local law enforcement.
After separate sessions with federal agents and state/local law enforcement officials from throughout Maine to hear their needs and concerns, the Attorney General met with the full staff of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. He praised the cooperation between the Office, federal, state and local law enforcement, saying that the way to solve problems is through communication and integration of law enforcement.
The Attorney General also discussed the Department’s priorities and thanked the staff for their commitment to public service, reiterating that protecting communities and upholding the rule of law is at the core of what U.S. Attorney’s offices do.
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Presque Isle Man Faces up to 20 Years for Role in Penobscot and Aroostook County Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Presque Isle man pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Bangor today to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl.
According to court records, between January 2018 and December 2021, Joshua Young, 32, conspired with others to traffic methamphetamine and fentanyl in Penobscot and Aroostook counties. Young knowingly and intentionally joined and participated in the conspiracy.
Young faces up to 20 years imprisonment. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation 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 U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and Maine Drug Enforcement Agency investigated the case. Assistance was provided by the police departments in Orono, Bangor, Brewer, Caribou, Presque Isle and Houlton. U.S. Attorney Darcie McElwee also recognized the cooperation and coordination provided by the Maine State Attorney General’s Office and the Aroostook County District Attorney’s Office.
Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces: This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
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Florida Man Faces 5-40 Years for Trafficking Methamphetamine in Bangor and Houlton AreasRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Florida man pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Bangor today to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
According to court records, between May 2018 and July 2018, Jared Fogg, 32, was obtaining large quantities of methamphetamine from Florida and distributing it in locations around Bangor and Houlton through a group of co-conspirators. On July 12, 2018, a truck driven by a co-conspirator and in which Fogg was a passenger was stopped by law enforcement in Lincoln. A search of the vehicle revealed multiple grams of methamphetamine and nearly $20,000 in cash in Fogg’s bag.
Fogg faces a minimum of five years and maximum of 40 years in prison, and a fine of up to $5 million. 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 U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency investigated this case.
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Castine Man Pleads Guilty to Sending Obscene Images to Minor, Attempting to Possess Sexually Explicit Images of Minor, Obstructing InvestigationRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Castine man pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Bangor today to attempted possession of child sexual abuse material, transfer of obscene material to a minor and obstruction of a federal investigation.
According to court records, in late July and early August 2018, Nicholas Wood, 26, used Snapchat to send a series of obscene images of himself to a child under the age of 16. Wood attempted to manipulate the victim into engaging in sex acts with him and sending him sexually explicit images. After being informed by federal agents that they were investigating the use of his Snapchat account to send obscene images to minors, Wood deleted the application and associated data from his phone to prevent its use in the investigation.
Wood faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on both the attempted possession of child pornography charge and the transfer of obscene material to a minor charge. He faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for obstruction. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation 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.
Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case.
To report an incident involving the possession, distribution, receipt or production of child pornography: Child sexual abuse material – "child pornography" – captures the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. These images document victims’ exploitation and abuse, and they suffer re-victimization every time the images are viewed. File a report with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at https://report.cybertip.org/ or 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 www.justice.gov/psc.
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Orono Resident Agrees to Pay over $228,000 to Settle Allegations of Fraudulently Obtaining Pandemic Relief FundsRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: U.S. Attorney Darcie N. McElwee today announced that Jacob Hennie of Orono has agreed to pay $228,338.30 to settle a civil fraud case alleging that he fraudulently applied for, received and obtained forgiveness for two Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, and fraudulently applied for and received a COVID-19 Economic Injury and Disaster Loan (EIDL) Emergency Advance.
The United States filed a complaint against Hennie in the United States District Court for the District of Maine on April 14, 2023. The complaint alleged that in July 2020, Hennie misrepresented that he operated a business with nine employees to receive a $9,000 EIDL Emergency Advance when he did not operate any business. In February 2021, Hennie obtained a first-draw PPP loan in the amount of $18,625 based on alleged misrepresentations in the loan applications. He then obtained a second-draw PPP loan in the amount of $20,833 based on alleged misrepresentations related to fictitious business expenses. Hennie received forgiveness for both PPP loans through allegedly misrepresenting how the loan funds were used.
The complaint against Hennie was brought by the United States pursuant to the False Claims Act (FCA) and the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act (FIRREA). The FCA provides that any person who “knowingly presents, or causes to be presented, a false or fraudulent claim for payment or approval” or “knowingly makes, uses, or causes to be made or used, a false record or statement material to a false or fraudulent claim” is liable to the United States for three times the amount of damages which the United States sustains, plus a civil penalty for each FCA violation. For FCA violations assessed after January 30, 2023, the minimum penalty per violation is $13,508.
FIRREA provides that the Attorney General may recover civil penalties against persons who knowingly make a false statement for the purpose of influencing a decision by the Administrator of the SBA or to obtain a loan, money, or anything of value under certain SBA programs, including the PPP. For FIRREA violations assessed after January 30, 2023, the maximum penalty per violation is $2,372,677.
The complaint filed by the United States is a result of the District of Maine’s ongoing efforts to identify and investigate fraudulently obtained pandemic relief funds. Recent amendments to federal law have extended the statute of limitations for civil and criminal fraud enforcement actions concerning PPP and EIDL loans from six to ten years. The civil action is docketed United States v. Jacob Hennie, 23-cv-00171-JAW (D. Me.).
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Lewiston Man Pleads Guilty to Straw Purchasing Conspiracy Involving over 30 HandgunsRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Lewiston man pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Bangor today to an illegal straw purchasing conspiracy and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court records, between December 2021 and July 2022, Abdullahi Issak, 26, conspired to have 36 firearms straw purchased for him at federal firearms dealers throughout central and southern Maine. Issak directed the straw purchasers where to buy the firearms and what firearms to buy, and provided them cash or drugs in return for engaging in the illegal transactions. Issak took possession of the firearms from the straw purchasers following each sale. He also pleaded guilty to knowingly possessing one of the firearms, which was purchased for him at a federal firearms dealer in Jay. A 2019 New York felony conviction precluded Issak from possessing firearms.
Straw purchasing typically involves a buyer who can lawfully purchase firearms but who then provides them to another person who is legally prohibited from purchasing or possessing firearms, therefore allowing the prohibited person to illegally obtain firearms and avoid the national background check system.
Issak faces up to 10 years in prison on the felon in possession charge and five years in prison on the conspiracy charge. He also faces a fine of up to $250,000 on each count. Following any sentence of imprisonment he faces up to three years of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation 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.
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Brewer Woman Faces up to 30 Years for Wire Fraud, Making False Statements to a Lending Business & Making Straw PurchaseRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Brewer woman pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Bangor today to wire fraud and making false statements to a mortgage lending business. She also pleaded guilty to a separate charge of making a false statement to a licensed firearms dealer.
According to court records, between November 2020 and April 2021, Carol Bragdon, 49, provided false statements and representations to a residential mortgage lender for the purpose of obtaining a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) backed loan. She used Google email accounts to communicate with the lender and the VA and to transmit documentation as part of the scheme. The emails were transmitted from Maine to another state.
In August 2021, Bragdon purchased five firearms at Maine Military Supply in Brewer, falsely stating that she was the actual purchaser of the firearms. She was accompanied by an individual who directed her to specific firearms and who was later arrested with one of the firearms, a Walther model PK380 .380 caliber pistol. That individual was prohibited from purchasing a firearm under federal law.
Straw purchasing typically involves a buyer who can lawfully purchase firearms but who then provides them to another person who is legally prohibited from purchasing or possessing firearms, therefore allowing the prohibited person to illegally obtain firearms and avoid the national background check system.
Bragdon faces up to 30 years in prison and up to five years of supervised release. She will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation 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 VA Office of Inspector General and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the cases.
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Waterville Man Faces up to 15 Years for Conspiring to Provide Material Support to TerroristsRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Waterville man pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Bangor today to conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists.
According to court records, beginning in November 2021, Xavier Pelkey, 19, conspired with two minors, one located in Chicago and one in Canada, to conduct a mass shooting at a Shia mosque in the Chicago area. Pelkey and his coconspirators were subscribers to a radical form of Sunni Islam and supporters of the foreign terrorist organization the Islamic State, also known as ISIS. Pelkey planned to contribute firearms, ammunition and explosives to be used in the attack.
In February 2022, the FBI executed a search warrant at Pelkey’s Waterville residence and discovered three handmade explosive devices. Investigators observed a hand-painted version of the flag used by ISIS on the wall of Pelkey’s bedroom and recovered written statements intended to be released just prior to the planned attack claiming the attack in the name of ISIS.
Pelkey faces up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine followed by up to a lifetime of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation 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.
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