District of Maine
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Caribou Man Sentenced for Conspiring to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Caribou man was sentenced today in federal court for conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, Acting U.S. Attorney Donald E. Clark announced.
U.S. District Judge Lance E. Walker sentenced Nathan Corbin, 30, to four years in prison and three years of supervised release. The sentence was adjusted down to four years to account for approximately 27 months Corbin has served in prison for a related state-court case. Corbin pleaded guilty in federal court in March 2021.
According to court records, between approximately July 2018 and May 2019, members of the conspiracy obtained methamphetamine in western and southern states from sources in Mexico. Corbin and his co-conspirators then distributed the drugs in Aroostook County and other parts of central and northern Maine.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations and the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency investigated this case with the assistance of multiple state and local law enforcement agencies.
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.
Presque Isle Woman Pleads Guilty to Passing Counterfeit MoneyRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Presque Isle woman pleaded guilty today in federal court to passing counterfeit money, Acting U.S. Attorney Donald E. Clark announced.
According to court records, on July 23, 2018, Jessica Jones, 32, used a counterfeit $20 bill at both a Domino’s restaurant and a McDonald’s restaurant in Presque Isle. Jones later stated that she had received the counterfeit money from an individual who was trading counterfeit bills for drugs.
Jones faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. She 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 Presque Isle Police Department and the U.S. Secret Service investigated the case.
Jay Man Sentenced for Conspiring to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Jay man was sentenced today in federal court for conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, Acting U.S. Attorney Donald E. Clark announced.
U.S. District Judge Lance E. Walker sentenced Brian Holmes, 42, to 200 months in prison and 10 years of supervised release. Holmes pleaded guilty in February 2020.
According to court records, between January 2017 and August 2018, Holmes and other members of the conspiracy distributed large quantities of methamphetamine in northern Maine. Holmes recruited and directed others to distribute the drugs. Holmes and other members obtained the drugs from out-of-state sources in Colorado and Arizona. The organization sent thousands of dollars in cash to those sources to supply its drug trafficking enterprise.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency investigated the case.
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.
Presque Isle Woman Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Presque Isle woman pleaded guilty in federal court today to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, Acting U.S. Attorney Donald E. Clark announced.
According to court records, between approximately July 2018 and May 2019, members of the conspiracy obtained methamphetamine in western and southern states from sources in Mexico. Crystal Greenlaw, 31, and her co-conspirators then distributed the drugs in Aroostook County and other parts of central and northern Maine. Greenlaw made at least two trips to obtain methamphetamine and transport it back to Maine.
Greenlaw faces between 10 years and life in prison and a fine of up to $10 million. She also faces between five years and a lifetime of supervised release. She 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, Homeland Security Investigations and the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency investigated this case with the assistance of multiple state and local law enforcement agencies.
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.
Presque Isle Man Sentenced for Conspiring to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Presque Isle man was sentenced in federal court today for conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, Acting U.S. Attorney Donald E. Clark announced.
U.S. District Judge Lance E. Walker sentenced Joel Strother, a/k/a “Jody,” 42, to 27 years in prison and five years of supervised release. Strother pleaded guilty in January 2021.
According to court records, between approximately July 2018 and May 2019, Strother and other members of the conspiracy obtained methamphetamine in western and southern states from sources in Mexico. Strother personally made trips to Georgia, Arizona, California and Mexico and obtained methamphetamine. He also recruited and directed others to participate in similar trips. Once Strother and his co-conspirators transported the methamphetamine back to Maine, they distributed the drugs in Aroostook County and other parts of central and northern Maine. Strother also recruited and directed others to distribute the drugs.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations and the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency investigated this case with the assistance of multiple state and local law enforcement agencies.
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.
New Hampshire Man Sentenced for Conspiring to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A New Hampshire man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for conspiring to distribute over 500 grams of methamphetamine, Acting U.S. Attorney Donald E. Clark announced.
U.S. District Judge D. Brock Hornby sentenced Joseph Fall, 40, to 78 months in prison and five years of supervised release. Fall pleaded guilty on March 29, 2021.
According to court records, between March 2018 and February 2019, Fall conspired with his wife and others to distribute methamphetamine in New Hampshire and Maine. During the conspiracy, Fall and his wife were stopped by the Illinois State Police while bringing methamphetamine back to New England from California. Law enforcement officers seized nearly a kilogram of methamphetamine from their vehicle as part of that traffic stop. Investigators later made multiple controlled purchases of methamphetamine from Fall and his co-conspirators. Fall was living in Rumford, Maine at the time.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Rumford Police Department, the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, the New Hampshire State Police, the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Drug Task Force, the Carroll County (New Hampshire) Sheriff’s Office and the Illinois State Police investigated the case.
Sanford Man Pleads Guilty to Making False Statements to Firearms DealersRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Sanford man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court to providing false information to firearms dealers while purchasing firearms, Acting U.S. Attorney Donald E. Clark announced.
According to court records, in October and November 2018, Allen Sinclair Bowman, 26, purchased 10 firearms from three different federal firearm licensees in Cumberland and York counties. While purchasing the firearms, Bowman responded “Yes” to a question on an ATF form which asked him if he was purchasing the firearms for himself. In truth, he was purchasing the firearms for a drug dealer in Massachusetts to settle a drug debt. It is against federal law to provide false information to federal firearm licensees when purchasing firearms from them.
Bowman faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on each of the three counts to which he pleaded guilty. 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 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Sanford Police Department investigated the case as part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative.
PSN is a nationwide initiative that brings together federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement officials, prosecutors, community leaders and other stakeholders to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in a community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. PSN is coordinated by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in the 94 federal judicial districts throughout the 50 states and U.S. territories. PSN is customized to account for local violent crime problems and resources. Across all districts, PSN follows four key design elements of successful violent crime reduction initiatives: community engagement, prevention and intervention, focused and strategic enforcement, and accountability.
Massachusetts Man Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing FirearmsRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Woburn, Massachusetts man pleaded guilty today in federal court to being an unlawful user of controlled substances in possession of firearms, Acting U.S. Attorney Donald E. Clark announced.
According to court records, between March 6, 2020, and November 16, 2020, Sauma Brata Deb, 27, was arrested on five separate occasions in either New Hampshire or Massachusetts. During each of these arrests, drugs or drug-use paraphernalia (or both) were recovered from him. On January 29, 2021, he attempted to sell a firearm to the Kittery Trading Post. When he was arrested, two firearms were recovered from him and additional items of drug-use paraphernalia were recovered from his car. It is against federal law for unlawful users of drugs to possess firearms.
Deb faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. 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 Maine and New Hampshire offices of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Kittery Police Department investigated the case as part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative.
PSN is a nationwide initiative that brings together federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement officials, prosecutors, community leaders and other stakeholders to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in a community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. PSN is coordinated by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in the 94 federal judicial districts throughout the 50 states and U.S. territories. PSN is customized to account for local violent crime problems and resources. Across all districts, PSN follows four key design elements of successful violent crime reduction initiatives: community engagement, prevention and intervention, focused and strategic enforcement, and accountability.
Mars Hill Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug ChargeRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Mars Hill man pleaded guilty in federal court today to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, Acting U.S. Attorney Donald E. Clark announced.
According to court records, between approximately July 2018 and May 2019, members of the conspiracy obtained methamphetamine in western and southern states from sources in Mexico. Josh Cook, 26, and his co-conspirators then distributed the drugs in Aroostook County and other parts of central and northern Maine.
Cook faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million. He also faces between 3 years and 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 court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations and the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency investigated this case with the assistance of multiple state and local law enforcement agencies.
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.
Federal Judge Convicts Northeast Harbor Man of Failing to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A federal district court judge convicted a Northeast Harbor man today of failing to register as a sex offender following a half-day bench trial, Acting U.S. Attorney Donald E. Clark announced.
The evidence at trial revealed that in 2016, Jack Palmer, 70, was convicted in federal court in Bangor of possessing child pornography. As a result of that conviction, Palmer was required to register as a sex offender in Maine and to update that registration within three days if he changed residences. In November 2020, he moved from Portland to Northeast Harbor and failed to notify the Maine Sex Offender Registry. He lived at this residence until his arrest in April 2021.
Palmer faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. 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 United States Marshals Service and the Bar Harbor/Mount Desert Police Department investigated the case.
Aroostook County Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug ChargeRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: An Aroostook County man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, Acting U.S. Attorney Donald E. Clark announced.
According to court records, between approximately July 2018 and May 2019, members of the conspiracy obtained methamphetamine in western and southern states from sources in Mexico. Zane Willhide, 24, and his co-conspirators then distributed the drugs in Aroostook County and other parts of central and northern Maine.
Willhide faces between 10 years and life in prison and a fine of up to $10 million. He also faces between five years and 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 court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations and the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency investigated this case with the assistance of multiple state and local law enforcement agencies.
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.
Winslow Man Sentenced for Benefits FraudRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Winslow man was sentenced today in federal court for Social Security fraud, health care fraud and theft of government money, Acting U.S. Attorney Donald E. Clark announced.
U.S. District Judge Nancy Torresen sentenced Robert Curtis, 63, to three years of probation, including six months of home confinement. He was also ordered to pay $92,071.90 to the Social Security Administration (“SSA”) and $25,307.35 to the Maine Department of Health & Human Services (“ME/DHHS”) in restitution. Curtis pleaded guilty on March 31, 2021.
According to court records, Curtis was a recipient of Social Security Disability Insurance (“SSDI”) benefit payments beginning in February 2011. SSDI benefits are paid to people who are blind or disabled. He also was a recipient of MaineCare coverage beginning in April 2010 and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefit payments beginning in February 2011. These programs have reporting requirements for work activity and income, which can affect eligibility for benefits.
During the time he was receiving benefits under these programs, Curtis worked as a medication deliverer. He also served as the lead plaintiff in a civil suit for lost wages, alleging that he should have been classified as an employee instead of an independent contractor, for which he was awarded $21,472.42. He failed to inform SSA or ME/DHHS of his work activity and income, despite periodic reminders that he was required to report it. He also denied any such activity to SSA in a continuing disability review in 2013, and to ME/DHHS in annual reviews in 2011 through 2017, because he knew it could affect his eligibility for benefits. As a result, he improperly received over $92,000 in SSDI benefits, almost $12,000 in SNAP benefits, and over $13,000 in MaineCare benefits.
SSA’s Office of the Inspector General and ME/DHHS investigated this case.
Lebanon Man Sentenced for Fentanyl DistributionRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine—A Lebanon, Maine man was sentenced today in federal court for distributing fentanyl, Acting U.S. Attorney Donald E. Clark announced.
Chief U.S. District Judge Jon D. Levy sentenced Angel Valle, 55, to 10 years in prison and four years of supervised release. Valle pleaded guilty in February 2020.
According to court records, an FBI investigation revealed that Valle distributed fentanyl in the Lebanon area. During the investigation, Valle and two associates sold fentanyl to a confidential informant on two occasions in May 2019. In total, Valle and his associates distributed approximately 500 grams of fentanyl to the informant.
The FBI Safe Streets Gang Task Force of New Hampshire investigated the case, with the assistance of the Maine State Police. The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case as part of the Department of Justice’s Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge, a program designed to reduce the supply of deadly synthetic opioids.
Eddington Man Sentenced for Possessing Firearms after Domestic Violence ConvictionRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine—An Eddington man was sentenced in federal court today for possessing firearms after being convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, Acting U.S. Attorney Donald E. Clark announced.
U.S. District Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. sentenced Amilio Christopher Samaroo, 56, to 10 months in prison and three years of supervised release. Samaroo pleaded guilty on May 11, 2021.
According to court records, in April 2020, law enforcement officers were called to Samaroo’s home. He and his wife had been arguing earlier in the day. When the police arrived at the house, Samaroo refused to leave and engaged in a standoff. Officers obtained a warrant for Samaroo’s arrest and a search warrant for the home. During the search, officers found multiple weapons that Samaroo had placed throughout the house, including a loaded J.C. Higgins bolt-action 20-gauge shotgun. Officers later found a handgun in the ceiling of the home and two boxes of ammunition. Samaroo was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition after a 2003 Wisconsin conviction for domestic abuse.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Maine State Police investigated the case.
Portland Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Portland man pleaded guilty today in federal court to possessing child pornography, Acting U.S. Attorney Donald E. Clark announced.
According to court records, on April 29 of this year, investigators with the FBI executed search warrants for the residence and person of Andrew Hazelton, 28. Investigators encountered Hazelton just outside the residence and informed him of the warrants. He had a Samsung smartphone in his pants pocket that he provided to investigators and later unlocked. An analysis of the phone revealed a folder containing dozens of video files depicting minors, some of them prepubescent, engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
Hazelton faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and a term of supervised release of at least five years and up to life. 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 FBI investigated the case.
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, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
New Hampshire Man Sentenced on Interstate Stalking and Domestic Violence ChargesRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine—A New Hampshire man was sentenced today in federal court for stalking and traveling interstate to violate a protection order, Acting U.S. Attorney Donald E. Clark announced.
U.S. District Judge Nancy Torresen sentenced Lawrence Keenan IV, 31, to 33 months in prison and three years of supervised release. Keenan entered a guilty plea on February 10, 2021.
According to court documents, beginning on June 3, 2020, Keenan began sending a recently former girlfriend and her family harassing text messages in an effort to reconcile. When the victim, who resided in South Berwick, Maine at the time, refused to respond, Keenan also sent threatening messages to the victim and her former husband, which caused them both emotional distress. The victim then obtained a temporary protection order from the Maine District Court in York on June 4, 2020. The order, among other restrictions, prohibited Keenan from contacting the victim or entering the premises of her residence, which Keenan later did on June 14, 2020, resulting in his arrest. The temporary order was made final by the Maine District Court on June 17, 2020. Keenan was released on bail on June 24, 2020, with a new condition that he not return to South Berwick.
Between June 28-29, 2020, Keenan left approximately 23 harassing and threatening voicemails for the victim in violation of the final protection order and state bail conditions. In the last message, Keenan warned the victim that he was on his way to her South Berwick residence. Keenan drove from New Hampshire to Maine with the intent to violate the protective order. In the early morning of June 29, 2020, the South Berwick police responded to a 911 call and located Keenan inside the porch of the victim’s residence. She was not home at the time.
The South Berwick and Somersworth, New Hampshire police departments; the York County District Attorney’s Office; and the FBI investigated the case. The prosecution was 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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.
Houlton Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine—A Houlton man pleaded guilty in federal court today to two counts of distributing methamphetamine, one count of distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and one count of possessing 500 grams or more of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, Acting U.S. Attorney Donald E. Clark announced.
According to court records, Derek Fitzpatrick, 30, sold methamphetamine to a confidential informant on two occasions in August 2018. In September 2018, Fitzpatrick sold more than 50 grams of methamphetamine to the informant. On September 28, 2018, law enforcement officers executed search warrants at Fitzpatrick’s residence in Houlton and his garage in Littleton. Agents seized almost 2,000 grams of methamphetamine from the residence.
On each of the two counts of distributing methamphetamine, Fitzpatrick faces up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $1 million, and between three years and a lifetime of supervised release. For distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, he faces between five years and 40 years in prison, a fine of up to $5 million, and between four years and a lifetime of supervised release. For possessing 500 grams or more of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, he faces between 10 years and life in prison, a fine of up to $10 million, and between five years and a lifetime of supervised release.
Fitzpatrick 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, Homeland Security Investigations and the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency investigated this case, with the assistance of the Aroostook County Sheriff’s Office, the Houlton Police Department and the Maine State Police.
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.
Former Falmouth Resident Pleads Guilty to Accessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A former Falmouth resident pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Portland to accessing child pornography with intent to view, Acting U.S. Attorney Donald E. Clark announced.
According to court records, in March 2015, agents with Homeland Security Investigations were investigating the sharing of child pornography using Ares, a peer-to-peer file-sharing program. They downloaded a child pornography video from an internet protocol address that was determined to be assigned to a residence in Falmouth. Agents obtained a search warrant for the residence and executed it in May 2015. They found a laptop computer in the bedroom of Aaron Cassidy, 48, that was later found to contain evidence of the Ares file-sharing program, as well as images and videos of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
Cassidy faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and a term of supervised release of at least five years and up to life. 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.
Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case.
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, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Lewiston Men Sentenced for Million-Dollar Health Care FraudRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine— Two Lewiston men were sentenced today in U.S District Court in Portland for health care fraud, Acting U.S. Attorney Donald E. Clark announced.
U.S. District Judge Jon D. Levy sentenced Abdirashid Ahmed, 41, to two years in prison and three years of supervised release, and Garat Osman, 35, to three years of probation. Judge Levy also ordered Ahmed to pay $1,863,264.83 and Osman to pay $544,097.78 in restitution to MaineCare. Both men pleaded guilty in May 2019.
According to court records, Ahmed and Osman were interpreters who conspired with several Lewiston/Auburn mental health counseling services to defraud MaineCare. One of the counselors was Nancy Ludwig, who was the owner of Facing Change, a mental health and substance abuse counseling agency in Lewiston. From about November 2015 until May 2018, Ludwig and Ahmed led a conspiracy to commit health care fraud by submitting claims to MaineCare for services that were not rendered as billed.
Beginning in February 2015, Ludwig agreed to pay Ahmed a kickback in return for Ahmed bringing MaineCare beneficiaries to Facing Change. Ludwig, Ahmed and other employees at Facing Change then caused false and fraudulent claims to be submitted to MaineCare for both counseling and interpreter services. The false claims included claims for visits that never occurred and claims that inflated the level of service provided. In 2016, in response to a MaineCare regulatory change, Ludwig and Ahmed conspired to change the diagnosis of many of Ahmed’s clients to schizophrenia so they could remain eligible to receive MaineCare reimbursement for the services at Facing Change.
In the fall of 2016, auditors with the MaineCare Program Integrity Unit audited Facing Change. Ludwig and many of her employees conspired to manufacture false and fraudulent records in an attempt to deceive the auditor. Osman joined the fraud scheme in December 2016 and established an interpreter company that received all the fraudulent payments from that time until early May 2019. In May 2019, agents with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), the FBI and the Maine Attorney General’s Office executed search warrants at Facing Change and Ahmed’s business. Investigators eventually determined that MaineCare was defrauded of $1,863,264.83 in this fraud scheme.
“Healthcare fraud depletes funds intended to provide care for our most vulnerable citizens,” said Phillip M. Coyne, Special Agent in Charge for HHS-OIG. “Today’s sentencing is a strong reminder that we will spare no resources to bring to justice those that undermine the integrity of our federal health care system and those served by it. I appreciate the continued partnership with the Maine U.S Attorney’s Office to protect public funds.”
“Federal and state investigators did tremendous work in uncovering this fraud scheme,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Clark. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office was proud to be part of the team that brought these defendants to justice. We will always aggressively pursue those who attempt to defraud the public in this fashion.”
People who suspect health care fraud are encouraged to report it by calling 1-800-HHS-TIPS.
This prosecution was the result of a three-year collaborative investigation by HHS-OIG, the FBI and the Maine Attorney General’s HealthCare Crimes Unit. The investigation started because of the auditing work done by the MaineCare Program Integrity Unit.
Biddeford Middle School Employee Arrested and Charged with Child Exploitation OffensesRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Biddeford man was arrested and charged by criminal complaint today with possession of child pornography and attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor, Acting U.S. Attorney Donald E. Clark announced.
According to court documents, in April 2021, Jesse Kiesel, 48, engaged in an internet chat with an undercover member of law enforcement posing as a 13-year-old girl. During the chat, Kiesel steered the conversation towards the topics of sex and sexual contact, and ultimately transmitted images of his erect penis to the undercover officer. Following the execution of a search warrant at Kiesel’s residence, numerous images of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct were recovered from his computer.
Also according to court documents, Kiesel is an employee of Biddeford Middle School with the job title of Ed Tech II.
If convicted, Kiesel faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on each charge. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Kiesel will make an initial appearance via videoconference on July 12 at 2:00 p.m.
Homeland Security Investigations is investigating the case, with assistance from the Biddeford Police Department, the Newbury, Massachusetts Police Department and the United States Marshals Service.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Wells Man Pleads Guilty to Making False Statements to Firearms DealersRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine—A Wells man pleaded guilty today in federal court to providing false information to firearms dealers while purchasing firearms, Acting U.S. Attorney Donald E. Clark announced.
According to court records, in April 2019, Christopher Thomas Proach, 24, purchased seven firearms from three different federal firearm licensees in Cumberland and York counties. While purchasing the firearms, Proach responded “Yes” to a question on an ATF form that asked him if he was purchasing the firearms for himself. In truth, he was purchasing the firearms for a Connecticut resident. He gave all seven firearms to the Connecticut resident immediately after the sales. It is against federal law to provide false information to federal firearm licensees when purchasing firearms from them.
Proach faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on each of the three counts to which he pleaded guilty. 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 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Wells Police Department investigated the case as part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative.
PSN is a nationwide initiative that brings together federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement officials, prosecutors, community leaders and other stakeholders to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in a community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. PSN is coordinated by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in the 94 federal judicial districts throughout the 50 states and U.S. territories. PSN is customized to account for local violent crime problems and resources. Across all districts, PSN follows four key design elements of successful violent crime reduction initiatives: community engagement, prevention and intervention, focused and strategic enforcement, and accountability.
Massachusetts Men Sentenced for Home Invasion Robbery and Discharging Firearms During RobberyRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: Two Massachusetts men were sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for interfering with commerce through acts of violence, conspiring to do so, and discharging a firearm during the acts of violence, Acting U.S. Attorney Donald E. Clark announced.
Chief U.S. District Judge Jon D. Levy sentenced Eric Mercado, 33, of Lowell, Massachusetts, to 16 years in prison and four years of supervised release. Judge Levy sentenced Steven Hardy, 33, of Maynard, Massachusetts, to 15 ½ years in prison and four years of supervised release. Both men were also ordered to pay $3,740 in restitution to the victim.
According to court records, on May 11, 2019, Mercado, Hardy and other persons travelled from Lowell, Massachusetts to the York, Maine residence of a medical marijuana caregiver with a plan to rob the caregiver of money and marijuana. Some of the members of the conspiracy posed as friends of the caregiver to gain entry into the house and socialized with the caregiver. While the caregiver and these persons were socializing, Mercado and Hardy entered the house through a door that had been unlocked by a member of the conspiracy. They were wearing masks, Mercado was armed with a 12-gauge shotgun and Hardy was armed with a 9 mm pistol. Mercado and Hardy ordered the victim onto the ground and demanded money and marijuana, but the victim refused. The victim fled to another part of the house pursued by Mercado and Hardy. Both Mercado and Hardy fired their guns but missed the victim. The victim eventually escaped the house while being chased by Mercado and Hardy. While running down the driveway, Hardy shot at the victim but missed. Mercado and Hardy then returned to the house, stole the victim’s truck and fled the scene. They crashed the vehicle a short time later and fled on foot into the nearby woods. They were later picked up by the driver who had driven them to the house before the robbery.
The York Police Department received an emergency E-911 call. A York officer observed a vehicle in the vicinity of the robbery and recorded that vehicle’s license plate number. Further investigation of the vehicle revealed that it had been rented by the person whom Mercado had recruited to drive him and Hardy to the victim’s house.
FBI was called to assist in the investigation. In September 2019, acting on information that Mercado had thrown the shotgun away while running through the woods, FBI investigators conducted an evidence recovery search of the area and recovered the shotgun submerged in mud.
The FBI, the York Police Department and the York County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
Caribou Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug ChargeRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Caribou man pleaded guilty in federal court yesterday to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, Acting U.S. Attorney Donald E. Clark announced.
According to court records, between approximately July 2018 and May 2019, members of the conspiracy obtained methamphetamine in western and southern states from sources in Mexico. Greg Libby, 43, and his co-conspirators then distributed the drugs in Aroostook County and other parts of central and northern Maine.
Libby faces between 10 years and life in prison and a fine of up to $10 million. He also faces between five years and 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 court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations and the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency investigated this case with the assistance of multiple state and local law enforcement agencies.
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.
Old Town Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing Short-Barreled ShotgunRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: An Old Town man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Bangor to possessing an unregistered firearm, Acting U.S. Attorney Donald E. Clark announced.
According to court records, on September 8, 2020, Stephen Warren, 37, was pulled over by the Old Town Police. He was issued a summons for operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license and served with a protection order. Warren was told not to operate his car due to his suspended license. He ignored this order, however, and drove away from the area. Officers attempted to stop him again, but he failed to stop and a brief pursuit occurred before he was eventually stopped and arrested.
A subsequent inventory search of Warren’s car revealed a short-barreled shotgun without a serial number that was not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record (NFRTR). Federal law prohibits the possession of a weapon made from a shotgun, if the modified weapon has a barrel less than 18 inches in length or an overall length of less than 26 inches, unless that weapon is registered to the possessor in the NFRTR.
Warren faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. 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 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Old Town Police Department investigated the case.
Greenbush Man Pleads Guilty to Unlawfully Possessing AmmunitionRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Greenbush man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Bangor to being a felon in possession of ammunition, Acting U.S. Attorney Donald E. Clark announced.
According to court records, on multiple dates at the end of January 2021, David Phillips, 30, was seen on video purchasing ammunition at a gun and ammunition store in Maine. These purchases were confirmed on Phillips’ debit card. The ammunition he purchased was not manufactured in the state of Maine. He was prohibited from possessing ammunition under federal law because he had previously been convicted in Connecticut state court of Violation of a Protective Order, a crime that was punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year.
Phillips faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. 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 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the FBI; the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office; the Maine State Police; and the Bangor Police Department investigated the case.
Bangor Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug and Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Bangor man pleaded guilty today in federal court to possessing fentanyl with intent to distribute, possessing a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime, and being a felon in possession of a firearm, Acting U.S. Attorney Donald E. Clark announced.
According to court records, on November 12, 2020, agents with the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency executed a search warrant on a motel room in Bangor where Nikolas J. Raines, 29, was staying. Upon searching Raines’ motel room, agents found 310 grams of fentanyl, along with a digital scale, a blender and other drug paraphernalia. They also found a loaded .22 caliber revolver close to the fentanyl. Raines was prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition because of prior Maine felony convictions.
On the drug trafficking charge, Raines faces a minimum of five years and up to 40 years in prison, a $5 million fine and a supervised release term of between five years and life. On the charge of possessing a firearm in relation to drug trafficking, he faces a minimum of five years and up to life in prison, in addition to the sentence of imprisonment on the drug trafficking charge. On the charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm, he also faces up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and 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 court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency investigated the case.
Houlton Man Pleads Guilty to Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Houlton man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Bangor to conspiring to distribute methamphetamine, Acting U.S. Attorney Donald E. Clark announced.
According to court records, between approximately May 2018 and July 2018, Hayden Fogg, 34, was part of a drug distribution operation based out of Florida and operating in northern Maine. A co-conspirator obtained large quantities of methamphetamine from Florida and had it transported to Maine. Fogg sold the drug in the Houlton area while other members of the conspiracy sold it in Bangor and Howland.
Fogg faces up to 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. 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 and the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency investigated the case.
Gorham Man Sentenced to 17 Years for Receiving and Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Gorham man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for receiving and possessing child pornography, Acting U.S. Attorney Donald E. Clark announced.
U.S. District Judge Nancy Torresen sentenced Carl Loomis, 65, to 17 years in prison followed by 10 years of supervised release. Loomis pleaded guilty on November 30, 2020.
According to court records, in May 2018, investigators with the Gorham Police Department executed a search warrant at Loomis’s residence in Gorham. He admitted to investigators that he had child pornography images on his phone and that he had sent images to others using chat sites. Investigators seized several electronic devices from the residence. On one of them, they found chats using a messaging application in which Loomis received child pornography images and videos and discussed his sexual interest in children.
The Gorham Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case.
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, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Augusta Man Sentenced for Robbing Businesses at KnifepointRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: An Augusta resident was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Bangor for a series of robberies in 2019, Acting U.S. Attorney Donald E. Clark announced.
U.S. District Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. sentenced Barry Grant, Jr., 39, to 57 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Grant was also ordered to pay $1,878 in restitution. He pleaded guilty on October 28, 2019.
According to court records, on February 25, 2019, and on July 17, 20 and 23, 2019, Grant robbed four different Augusta businesses at knifepoint. On each occasion he fled the scene with cash from the register. Grant was arrested by Augusta Police while fleeing the July 23, 2019 robbery.
“Knifepoint robberies are serious crimes that have ripple effects throughout the community, affecting clerks who are physically threatened, store owners who lose revenue, and near-by residents who feel less safe in their neighborhoods,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Clark. “The Project Safe Neighborhoods partnership between local, state and federal law enforcement agencies is effective and the investigation of this case by the Augusta Police Department and the FBI is an excellent example of that effective partnership.”
The Augusta Police Department and the FBI investigated the case as part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative.
PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
South Carolina Man Pleads Guilty to Interstate StalkingRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A South Carolina man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court to interstate stalking, Acting U.S. Attorney Donald E. Clark announced.
According to court records, during the days leading up to July 25, 2019, Dustin Beach, 27, drove a woman in his truck from South Carolina to Maine. During the drive to Maine, Beach threatened the woman and injured her by physically assaulting her with his hands and other objects, including a hammer and metal chain. These assaults resulted in the woman being placed in fear of serious bodily injury and substantial emotional distress.
Beach faces up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine 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 court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI and the Lewiston Police Department investigated the case.
New Hampshire Man Pleads Guilty to Tampering with Consumer ProductRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine—A Dover, New Hampshire man pleaded guilty today in federal court to one count of tampering with a consumer product, Acting U.S. Attorney Donald E. Clark announced.
According to court records, Nicholas Mitchell, 39, was an employee of a Maine company that manufactured pizza doughs that were sold to consumers through a supermarket chain in Maine and other states. In approximately June 2020, Mitchell’s employment was terminated.
On October 5, 2020, Mitchell entered a Saco supermarket that sold the pizza doughs. He proceeded directly to the pizza dough display case where he inserted razor blades in several of the pizza doughs and then returned the doughs to the display case. Three patrons purchased the tampered pizza doughs later that day. When the patrons subsequently opened the pizza doughs, they discovered the razor blades secreted inside the doughs.
When the store learned of the tainted product, store personnel removed the remaining pizza doughs from the display case. During this process, a store employee discovered another dough with a razor blade in it.
Mitchell faces a period of imprisonment of up to 10 years, followed by a period of supervised release of up to 3 years, and a fine of up to $250,000. He will also be required to pay restitution to the victims of the offenses. He will be sentenced following the preparation of a presentence report by the United States 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. Food and Drug Administration and the Saco Police Department investigated the case with assistance from the North Berwick and Dover, New Hampshire police departments.
Bath Man Pleads Guilty to Fraud and Identity Theft ChargesRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Bath man pleaded guilty today in federal court to one count of wire fraud, seven counts of money laundering, one count of transferring property to prevent seizure, and one count of aggravated identity theft, Acting U.S. Attorney Donald E. Clark announced.
According to court records, between February 2019 and September 2020, David Altenburg, 46, used his access to his employer’s financial accounts to make approximately 106 wire transfers and other withdrawals. To execute his scheme, he fraudulently used the name and email address of a firm director to purportedly authorize certain transfers.
In total, Altenburg diverted more than $2.7 million to accounts under his control. He used the diverted funds to fund travel; pay down his mortgage; and purchase luxury vehicles, jewelry, clothing and other items. After learning he was under investigation, he transferred title of his residence to a trust managed by his wife in an effort to prevent its seizure.
Altenburg faces a period of imprisonment of up to 20 years and a fine of up to $250,000 on the wire fraud count, up to 20 years and a fine of up to $500,000 on three of the money laundering counts, up to 10 years and a fine of $250,000 on four of the money laundering counts, up to five years and a fine of $250,000 on the transferring property to prevent seizure count, and a consecutive mandatory minimum sentence of two years and a fine of up to $250,000 on the aggravated identify theft count. He will also be required to pay restitution to the victims of the offenses. He will be sentenced following the preparation of a presentence report by the United States 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 Bath Police Department.
Boothbay Man Pleads Guilty to Distributing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Boothbay man pleaded guilty today in federal court to distributing child pornography, Acting U.S. Attorney Donald E. Clark announced.
According to court records, on October 8, 2019, Joseph Pinkham, 35, sent several text messages to an individual in Texas containing images of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. The individual in Texas reported the conduct to the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office. Investigators identified the sender as Pinkham and obtained a search warrant for his residence in Boothbay. In an interview with investigators, Pinkham acknowledged sending sexually explicit images of minors to the individual in Texas.
Pinkham faces a minimum of 15 years and a maximum of 40 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and a term of supervised release of at least five years and up to life. 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 Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, the Dallas (Texas) Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case.
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, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Former Texas Man Pleads Guilty to Failing to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A former Texas man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Bangor to failing to register as a sex offender, Acting U.S. Attorney Donald E. Clark announced.
According to court records, in 2007, Antonio Cardenas aka “Tony Vosburg,” 34, was convicted in Texas of Aggravated Assault of a Child under 14 Years of Age. This felony conviction made Cardenas a lifetime sex offender registrant in Texas. In about early August 2020, he moved from Texas and began living in Mars Hill and Caribou, Maine. He did not notify the Texas Sex Offender Registry that he was moving. Further, prior to his arrest on February 10, 2021, he made no attempt to register with the Maine Sex Offender Registry.
Cardenas faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. 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 United States Marshals Service investigated the case.
Glenburn Woman Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug and Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Glenburn woman pleaded guilty today in federal court to conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and 400 grams or more of fentanyl, and two counts of being an unlawful user of controlled substances in possession of a firearm, Acting U.S. Attorney Donald E. Clark announced.
According to court records, between September 2019 and February 2021, Danielle McBreairty, 31, conspired with others to distribute and possess with intent to distribute the drugs. As part of the conspiracy, she obtained large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl from her source and distributed the drugs throughout Penobscot and Aroostook counties. On February 27, 2020, and again on August 15, 2020, McBreairty, who was an unlawful user of controlled substances, was found in possession of a firearm. Under federal law, unlawful users of controlled substances are prohibited from possessing firearms.
On the drug conspiracy charge, McBreairty faces a minimum of 10 years in prison and up to life, a $10 million fine, and five years of supervised release. On the firearms charges, she faces up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three 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 court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency investigated the case, with assistance by the Old Town and Bangor police departments.
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.
Lubec Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine—A Lubec man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Bangor to possessing child pornography, Acting U.S. Attorney Donald E. Clark announced.
According to court records, in 2018, the Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit received information that a Twitter user was uploading and storing images and videos of child pornography. Investigators determined that the Twitter account was associated with the address of Rubin Perry, 34, in Lubec. Investigators obtained a search warrant for the address and interviewed Perry while executing the warrant. He admitted that he had a problem with child pornography and he did not know how to stop. He also admitted to having child pornography on his cell phone. His cell phone was later found to contain multiple images of child pornography.
If Perry is found to have a qualifying prior conviction, he faces a minimum of 10 and a maximum of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and not less than five 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 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 Computer Crimes Unit investigated the case.
Lincoln Man Sentenced for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine—A Lincoln man was sentenced today in federal court for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine, Acting U.S. Attorney Donald E. Clark announced.
U.S. District Judge Lance E. Walker sentenced Brandon Tolman, 32, to time served (25 months) and three years of supervised release. Tolman pleaded guilty in February 2021.
According to court records, between approximately May 2018 and July 2018, Tolman was part of a drug distribution operation based out of Florida and operating in northern Maine. A co-conspirator obtained large quantities of methamphetamine from Florida and had it transported to Maine. Tolman sold the drug in the Lincoln area while other members of the conspiracy sold it in Bangor, Howland and Houlton.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency investigated the case.
Waterville Man Sentenced to 15 Years on Federal Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Waterville man was sentenced today in federal court for three drug-related offenses, including conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, Acting U.S. Attorney Donald E. Clark announced.
U.S. District Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. sentenced Rodney Lacroix, 32, to 15 years in prison and 10 years of supervised release. Lacroix pleaded guilty in December 2020.
According to court records, Lacroix distributed fentanyl in Kennebec County between May 2017 and October 2018. Lacroix obtained fentanyl from out-of-state sources and used a network of distributors to sell more than 400 grams of the drug.
Lacroix was subject to enhanced penalties because of his 2013 federal conviction for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute oxycodone and cocaine.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case, with assistance provided by the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, the Waterville Police Department and the Maine State Police.
Durham Woman Pleads Guilty to Social Security FraudRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Durham woman pleaded guilty today in federal court to Social Security fraud, Acting U.S. Attorney Donald E. Clark announced.
According to court records, from about July 2009 through November 2018, Carol Bourgoin, 65, a recipient of Supplemental Security Income (“SSI”), concealed the presence of her husband in her household to maintain her eligibility to receive benefit payments. SSI benefits are paid to people with limited income who are blind, disabled or elderly. Bourgoin’s husband had sufficient income to render her ineligible for the benefits she received during that period. In multiple reviews of her eligibility for benefits, Bourgoin falsely represented to the Social Security Administration (“SSA”) that she was living alone and not receiving help or money from any other person during this time. At an interview with law enforcement agents, Bourgoin admitted to concealing her living situation from SSA because she knew it would make her ineligible to receive SSI.
Bourgoin faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, and up to three 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 court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
SSA’s Office of the Inspector General investigated the case.
Naples Man Sentenced to 15 years for Drug and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine—A Naples man was sentenced today in federal court in Portland for drug trafficking and firearm offenses, Acting U.S. Attorney Donald E. Clark announced.
Chief U.S. District Judge John D. Levy sentenced Sean Mulkern, 54, to 15 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release. Mulkern was also ordered to forfeit over $13,000 in drug proceeds. He pleaded guilty on March 14, 2019.
According to court records, on May 25, 2017, Westbrook police officers conducted a traffic stop of Mulkern. When officers searched his vehicle, they found cocaine, cocaine base and heroin. They also found approximately $13,000 in cash, a digital scale and a loaded 9 mm pistol close to the drugs. Investigators then executed a search warrant at Mulkern’s Naples residence and found additional quantities of cocaine base, a digital scale and four more firearms.
Because the Court found that Mulkern had two prior drug trafficking convictions and one prior burglary conviction, he was subject to enhanced penalties under the Armed Career Criminal Act.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency; and the Buxton and Westbrook Police Departments investigated the case.
This case was part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a nationwide initiative that brings together federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement officials, prosecutors, community leaders, and other stakeholders to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in a community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. PSN is coordinated by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in the 94 federal judicial districts throughout the 50 states and U.S. territories.
Lewiston Man Sentenced to Six Years in Prison for Conspiring to Cultivate and Distribute MarijuanaRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Lewiston man was sentenced today in federal court in Portland for conspiring to manufacture 100 or more marijuana plants and to distribute 100 or more kilograms of marijuana, Acting U.S. Attorney Donald E. Clark announced.
U.S. District Judge George Z. Singal sentenced Richard Daniels, aka “Stich,” 56, to six years in prison and five years of supervised release. Daniels was also fined $2,500. He pleaded guilty on November 21, 2019.
According to court records, between 2015 and February 27, 2018, Daniels was a member of an organization that cultivated marijuana at numerous locations in Androscoggin County and distributed bulk marijuana to people who were not participants in Maine’s Medical Marijuana program, including out-of-state customers. Daniels was an active participant in the conspiracy’s daily operations and personally supplied bulk quantities of marijuana to the conspiracy’s customers, including those from outside of Maine. In addition, Daniels processed marijuana into marijuana concentrate (“dabs”) which was also distributed illegally.
On February 27, 2018, law enforcement officers searched Daniels’ residence and an adjacent garage. During the search, agents seized approximately 119 kilograms of marijuana, 27 sheets of marijuana concentrate, and equipment used to manufacture marijuana concentrate.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the IRS Criminal Investigation Division investigated the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Department of Justice Observes 16th Annual World Elder Abuse Awareness Day by Reiterating Commitment to Protect SeniorsRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: Acting U.S. Attorney Donald E. Clark today joined the entire Department of Justice in observing the 16th Annual World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. The Justice Department echoes voices around the world condemning elder abuse, neglect and exploitation.
“As some of the most vulnerable among us, senior citizens are unfortunately a prime target for criminals,” Clark said. “Annually, at least 10 percent of older Americans are victims of some form of elder abuse, including abuse and neglect, marketing scams, investment rip-offs and imposter schemes. My office and the Department of Justice are committed to stopping those who prey on this vulnerable community.”
As the world takes this day to remember the elderly during these uncertain times, the Department of Justice remains committed, through its department-wide Elder Justice Initiative, to prevent and prosecute fraud on America’s seniors. Last year, the Department declared “Prevention and Disruption of Transnational Elder Fraud” to be an Agency Priority Goal, making it one of the Department’s four top priorities.
Major strides have already been made to that end:
- National Elder Fraud Hotline: In 2020, the Department launched a National Elder Fraud Hotline, 833-FRAUD-11. Staffed by experienced case managers who provide personalized support to callers, the hotline serves to assist elders and caretakers who believe they have been a victim of fraud by reporting and providing appropriate services.
- Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force: Established in June 2019 to combat foreign elder fraud schemes, the Strike Force is composed of the Department’s Consumer Protection Branch and six U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, along with FBI special agents, Postal Inspectors, and numerous other law enforcement personnel.
- Annual Elder Justice Sweep: In March 2020, the Attorney General announced the largest coordinated sweep of elder fraud cases in the Department’s history. The Department, together with every U.S. Attorney’s office, charged more than 400 defendants, causing over $1 billion in loss through fraud schemes that largely affected seniors.
- Holding foreign-based perpetrators accountable: Transnational criminal organizations are targeting our elder population in schemes including mass mailing fraud, grandparent scams, romance scams, lottery and sweepstakes scams, IRS and Social Security Administration imposter scams, and technical-support scams.
- Money Mule Initiative: Since October 2018, the Department and its law enforcement partners began a concentrated effort across the country and around the world to disrupt, investigate, and prosecute money mule activity used to facilitate fraud schemes, especially those victimizing senior citizens.
If you or a loved one has been the victim of elder fraud, please report it to the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 833-FRAUD-11. Reporting can help authorities try to stop those who commit fraud and also help prevent others from becoming victims.
Sidney Man Pleads Guilty to Making False Statements in a Highway ProjectRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Sidney man pleaded guilty in federal court Friday to making false statements with respect to work on a federally approved highway project, Acting U.S. Attorney Donald E. Clark announced.
According to court records, in June 2019, Jim Wentworth, 51, was working as the project manager for a general contractor on a bridge contract in Gardiner. As part of a contract modification, Wentworth submitted documents falsely inflating the costs paid to a subcontractor. Based on these false submissions, the Maine Department of Transportation overpaid the general contract by over $91,000. The project was funded in part with federal highway funds approved by the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Wentworth faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. He also 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 court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of Inspector General.
Michigan Man Indicted for Sexual Abuse of a MinorRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A federal grand jury in Portland returned an indictment charging a Warren, Michigan man with sexual abuse of a minor, Acting U.S. Attorney Donald E. Clark announced.
According to the indictment, in August 2009, while at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Matthew Boyd, 32, engaged in two separate sexual acts with a minor who was older than 12, but not yet 16 years old.
Boyd was arrested in Michigan and is expected to have his initial court appearance later today in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. If convicted, Boyd faces up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Naval Criminal Investigative Service investigated the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Bangor Man Sentenced for Credit Union RobberyRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Bangor man was sentenced today in federal court for robbing a credit union, Acting U.S. Attorney Donald E. Clark announced.
U.S. District Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. sentenced Earl R. Torrence, 44, to 37 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Torrence was also ordered to pay $1,950 in restitution. He pleaded guilty in February 2021.
According to court records, on June 30, 2020, Torrence entered the Acadia Federal Credit Union in Bangor wearing a surgical mask. He approached a teller, told the teller he had a gun and demanded money. He obtained the money and absconded. Investigators were able to identify Torrence by reviewing security footage taken outside the credit union just prior to the robbery. A short while later, investigators apprehended him in his home with money from the credit union.
The FBI and the Bangor Police Department investigated the case.
Washington County Man Sentenced on Federal Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine— A Machiasport man was sentenced in federal court on Tuesday for possession of a firearm by a felon, Acting U.S. Attorney Donald E. Clark announced.
U.S. District Judge Lance E. Walker sentenced Timothy D. Davis, 64, to 37 months in prison, to run consecutive to a 2-year sentence for violating the terms of his federal probation in another case. Davis was also sentenced to three years of supervised release. Davis pleaded guilty in October 2019.
According to court records, Davis possessed a shotgun on July 9, 2019. He had previously been convicted of possession of a firearm by a felon in 2019 and armed assault with intent to murder in 2010. Davis was prohibited from possessing a firearm under federal law because both crimes were punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case.
This case was 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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
Topsham Man Sentenced for Unlawfully Possessing FirearmsRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Topsham man was sentenced today in federal court for being a felon in possession of firearms, Acting U.S. Attorney Donald E. Clark announced.
U.S. District Judge D. Brock Hornby sentenced Manesseh Massaline, 51, to 51 months in prison and three years of supervised release. Massaline pleaded guilty on January 5, 2021.
According to court records, Massaline possessed a Glock 9 mm handgun and a KelTec 12-gauge shotgun on January 17, 2019. He was prohibited from possessing firearms under federal law because he had previously been convicted in Maine state court of Assault, Aggravated Assault and Aggravated Criminal Trespass, crimes that were punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency’s Mid-Coast Drug Task Force investigated the case.
This case was part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a nationwide initiative that brings together federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement officials, prosecutors, community leaders, and other stakeholders to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in a community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. PSN is coordinated by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in the 94 federal judicial districts throughout the 50 states and U.S. territories.
Sanford Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Trafficking Conspiracy Resulting in DeathRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine—A Sanford man pleaded guilty today in federal court to conspiracy to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl with death and serious bodily injury resulting, Acting U.S. Attorney Donald E. Clark announced.
According to court records, between August 2017 and April 2018, Scott Adams, 45, and other conspirators acquired fentanyl in Massachusetts for distribution in York County, Maine. Two people who obtained fentanyl distributed by members of the conspiracy died and another person suffered serious bodily injury.
On April 11, 2018, law enforcement officers seized about 150 grams of fentanyl from members of the conspiracy. An ensuing search of the defendant’s residence resulted in the seizure of fentanyl, a digital scale, approximately $2,500 in U.S. currency, and a “finger press” designed to compress fentanyl for further distribution.
As a result of the deaths and serious bodily injury, the defendant faces at least 20 years and up to life in prison and a fine of up to $5,000,000. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.
This case was investigated by the U.S Drug Enforcement Administration and the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, with assistance from the Biddeford and Sanford Police Departments.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Aroostook County Man Sentenced for Sexual Exploitation of a Child and Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: An Aroostook County man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Bangor for sexual exploitation of a minor and possession of child pornography, Acting U.S. Attorney Donald E. Clark announced.
U.S. District Judge Lane E. Walker sentenced Kyle Sirois, 29, recently of Fort Fairfield, to 40 years in prison to be followed by a lifetime of supervised release. Sirois was also ordered to pay $24,000 in restitution. He pleaded guilty on October 3, 2019.
According to court records, at an unknown time between March 2015 and October 2017, Sirois produced video files depicting child pornography. In addition, Sirois possessed other images and videos of different children engaging in sexual behavior, which he had purposefully sought out and received through the internet. These images and videos depicted the sexual exploitation of prepubescent children under the age of 12.
The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations, the Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit, the Fort Fairfield Police Department, and the Madawaska Police Department.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’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, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Kittery Man Sentenced for Transporting Child PornographyRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Kittery man was sentenced today in federal court in Portland for transporting images of child exploitation, Acting U.S. Attorney Donald E. Clark announced.
Chief U.S. District Judge John D. Levy sentenced Thomas Stewart, 32, to five years in prison followed by five years of supervised release. Stewart was also ordered to pay a total of $30,500 in restitution to 11 victims whose images he possessed. He pleaded guilty on October 30, 2019.
According to court records, in September 2018, Stewart uploaded numerous images of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct to a Dropbox cloud storage account he controlled. After Dropbox reported the uploading of child exploitation images using its service, investigators determined that the IP address used to log into the Dropbox account was assigned to Stewart’s residence in Kittery.
In December 2018, investigators executed a search warrant at Stewart’s residence and seized several electronic devices, including a Samsung tablet. In an interview with investigators, Stewart admitted using the tablet to access child pornography. He also admitted storing hundreds of child pornography files in his Dropbox account.
The Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit, the U.S. Secret Service and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service investigated this case. The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’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, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.