District of Maine
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Whitefield Man Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing FirearmRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: A Whitefield man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Bangor to being a felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced.
According to court records, on April 22, 2019, a Winthrop Police Department detective saw an individual, later identified as Samuel Caison, 36, carrying what appeared to be a firearm wrapped up in material in Augusta. The individual placed the firearm in the trunk of a car. Officers with the Augusta Police Department later located Caison driving the car and pulled him over. Officers found a .22 caliber rifle in the trunk. Caison was prohibited from possessing firearms due to multiple prior felony convictions, including convictions for Robbery in 2005, Aggravated Assault and Illegal Possession of a Firearm in 2010 and Terrorizing in 2013.
Caison 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.
The Augusta Police Department, the Winthrop Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). 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. For more information about PSN, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psn.
Maine Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing a Firearm with an Obliterated Serial NumberRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: A Bangor-area man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Bangor to possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number, U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced.
According to court records, on December 14, 2018, Bangor police officers responded to a local homeless shelter to investigate a report that staff members had discovered a firearm in a resident’s belongings. The resident, Tykell Jones, 20, admitted to possessing the firearm, a Taurus 9 mm pistol, and acknowledged that the serial number had been obliterated at the time he purchased the pistol in a private sale.
Jones faces up to five 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.
The Bangor Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case.
Lewiston Man Sentenced to Prison for Crack TraffickingRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: A Lewiston man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Portland for distributing cocaine base, commonly known as “crack,” U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced.
U.S. District Court Judge Nancy Torresen sentenced Everton Jones, 23, to 16 months in prison and three years of supervised release. Jones pleaded guilty on August 22, 2019.
According to court records, on June 1, 2018, Jones sold approximately one-half ounce of crack to another individual at a residence in Lewiston.
The FBI’s Southern Maine Gang Task Force; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the U.S. Marshals Service; the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; the Maine State Police; and the Lewiston Police Department investigated the case.
Connecticut Man Sentenced to Prison for Conspiring to Distribute Heroin, Fentanyl and CrackRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: A Waterbury, Connecticut man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Bangor for conspiring to distribute heroin, fentanyl and cocaine base (crack), U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced.
U.S. District Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. sentenced Luis “Flacco” Hernandez, 38, to 45 months in prison and three years of supervised release. Hernandez pleaded guilty on May 20, 2019.
According to court records, between January 2016 and July 2017, Hernandez conspired with others to distribute heroin, fentanyl and crack transported to Penobscot County from Waterbury, Connecticut. Hernandez sold the drugs and supervised other dealers, as well as “runners” who delivered drugs to others in Penobscot County.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency investigated the case as part of the Department of Justice’s Strategy to Combat the Opioid Epidemic.
Connecticut Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug ChargeRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: A Waterbury, Connecticut man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Bangor to possessing heroin with intent to distribute, U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced.
According to court records, on March 26, 2018, officers with the Indian Township Police Department conducting a child welfare check at a residence in Indian Township discovered Carlos Pemberton, 42, in a bedroom. Pemberton was in possession of a backpack and duffle bag that contained, among other items, heroin and drug paraphernalia. He was also in possession of $7,266.00 in cash.
Pemberton faces up to 20 years in prison, a $1,000,000 fine and a minimum three-year term of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.
The Indian Township Police Department and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case.
Bangor Woman Sentenced to Prison for Conspiring to Distribute Heroin, Fentanyl and CrackRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: A Bangor woman was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Bangor for conspiring to distribute heroin, fentanyl and cocaine base (crack), U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced.
U.S. District Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. sentenced Sammantha Johnson, 30, to 30 months in prison and three years of supervised release. Johnson pleaded guilty on February 26, 2019.
According to court records, between January 2016 and February 2017, Johnson conspired with others to distribute heroin, fentanyl and crack transported to Penobscot County from Waterbury, Connecticut. Johnson distributed the drugs in the Bangor area and facilitated the drug-dealing activities of other members of the conspiracy.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency investigated the case as part of the Department of Justice’s Strategy to Combat the Opioid Epidemic.
Turner Woman Sentenced for Embezzlement from Employee Benefit PlanRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Turner woman was sentenced today in federal court in Portland for embezzling from an employee benefit plan, U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced.
U.S. District Judge George Z. Singal sentenced Melissa Greenlaw, a/k/a Melissa Moore, 46, to 12 months and one day in prison and three years of supervised release. The court also ordered Greenlaw to pay $137,262.16 in restitution to the victims of the offense. Greenlaw pleaded guilty on June 4, 2019.
According to court records, Greenlaw was the Vice President of Operations for a health care company. In that capacity, she was a fiduciary for the company’s Deferred Savings and Profit Sharing Plan, a defined contribution 401(k) plan for employees to save for retirement. The plan was funded by amounts withheld from participating employees’ paychecks. From approximately July 2011 until May 2014, Greenlaw directed that funds that had been contributed by employees for deposit into the plan instead be used to pay company operating expenses, including bonuses and personal expenses for herself. Greenlaw misappropriated approximately $133,000 in employee contributions from the plan.
The U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations; and the U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration investigated the case.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Collects Nearly $20 Million for U.S. Taxpayers in Fiscal Year 2019Read the Press Release
Portland, Maine: U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced today that the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine collected over $19.8 million in civil, criminal and asset forfeiture actions in Fiscal Year (FY) 2019.
Working with partner agencies and divisions, the office collected $15,248,809 in asset forfeiture actions in FY 2019. Forfeited assets deposited into the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund are used to restore funds to crime victims and for a variety of law enforcement purposes.
Additionally, the office collected $4,410,030.33 in criminal and civil actions in FY 2019. Of this amount, $2,914,099.52 was collected in criminal actions and $1,495,930.81 was collected in civil actions.
The office also worked with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices and components of the Department of Justice to collect an additional $200,926.17 in cases pursued jointly by these offices. Collections in civil actions comprised $194,516.17 of this amount.
“I’m proud of my team’s efforts to collect funds on behalf of American taxpayers this past fiscal year,” said U.S. Attorney Frank. “We will keep working tirelessly to seek justice for crime victims and ensure that those who commit crimes do not profit from their illegal actions.”
The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, along with the department’s litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the U.S. and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims. The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is paid to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the department’s Crime Victims Fund, which distributes the funds collected to federal and state victim compensation and victim assistance programs.
Iraqi Man Pleads Guilty to Willfully Violating Order of SupervisionRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: An Iraqi national pleaded guilty today in federal court in Bangor to willfully failing to comply with the terms of release under supervision, U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced.
According to court records, Mustafa Hatem Abdulkadhim Al Shuwaili, 27, entered the U.S. in 2012. An immigration judge ordered him removed to Iraq in December 2015. In October 2018, pending his removal from the U.S., he signed an Order of Supervision with the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The order prohibited him from committing any crimes while on release, among other conditions. On June 11, 2019, he was convicted in Penobscot County of felony Domestic Violence Assault, with Priors.
Al Shuwaili faces up to one year in prison and a $100,000 fine. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigated the case.
Massachusetts Man Sentenced to Prison for Fentanyl TraffickingRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: A Peabody, Massachusetts man was sentenced today in federal court in Portland for possessing fentanyl with the intent to distribute, U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced.
U.S. District Court Judge George Z. Singal sentenced Sean Anderson, 39, to 71 months in prison and four years of supervised release.
According to court records, on May 7, 2019, a Maine State Police trooper stopped Anderson for speeding northbound on I-95 in York. The trooper recovered a package containing about nine grams of fentanyl from the ground just outside Anderson’s car, where he had thrown it after pulling over. While Anderson was being booked into the York County Jail, jail personnel found two additional packages containing about 52 grams of fentanyl in his underwear.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; the Maine State Police; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and the York County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. 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.
Federal Inmate Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Defraud the Bureau of PrisonsRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: A former Waterville resident pleaded guilty today in federal court in Portland to conspiring to make false statements to the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and to commit mail fraud, U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced.
According to court records, Frank Curtis, 41, caused the creation of false substance abuse treatment records in an effort to secure admission to the Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP) within the BOP. Inmates who successfully complete the RDAP can qualify for a period of early release of up to 12 months.
While detained at the BOP, Curtis sent a letter to a person in Maine with directions for the creation of false records. The other person created the records, which were subsequently transmitted to a BOP facility in South Carolina. The fraudulent records were designed to secure Curtis’s admission to the RDAP at the BOP facility in Estill, South Carolina. Law enforcement discovered the scheme prior to Curtis’s admission to the program.
Curtis faces up to five years in prison and a fine of $250,000. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General; and the Healthcare Crimes Unit of the Maine Attorney General’s Office investigated the case.
Westbrook Man Sentenced to Seven Years in Prison for Two Bank RobberiesRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: A Westbrook man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Portland for committing two bank robberies, the second of which he committed while on pretrial release for the first, U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced.
U.S. District Court Judge Nancy Torresen sentenced Aaron West, 38, to seven years in prison and three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $16,250 in restitution to Cumberland County Federal Credit Union and $1,140 in restitution to Norway Savings Bank. West pleaded guilty to both bank robberies on June 28, 2019.
According to court records, on January 31, 2018, West entered the Cumberland County Federal Credit Union in Falmouth. Holding his right hand in his sweatshirt pocket in a manner consistent with carrying a concealed weapon, he approached a teller and told her, “this is a robbery, no dye packs.” He obtained $16,250 in the robbery. He was subsequently arrested for the robbery and a federal grand jury indicted him in November 2018. He was released pending trial. In early March 2019, he became a fugitive from justice because he violated his pretrial release conditions and a warrant issued for his arrest.
On March 18, 2019, while in fugitive status, West entered a Norway Savings Bank in Portland. He held his right hand in his sweatshirt pocket, in a manner consistent with carrying a concealed weapon. He told the teller, “give me the money,” and after first receiving a small amount of money, demanded “more” and threatened to “start shooting.” He obtained $1,400 in the robbery.
The FBI and the Falmouth, Portland and Westbrook Police Departments investigated the case.
Pennsylvania Man Pleads Guilty to Attempting to Transfer Obscene Material to a MinorRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: A New Cumberland, Pennsylvania man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Bangor to attempting to transfer obscene material to a minor, U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced.
According to court records, Aaron Dyer, 34, using the multimedia messaging application Snapchat, sent images of his genitalia to the internet connected device of a 10-year-old girl living in Maine. Dyer requested in a message accompanying the images that the girl send back nude images of herself. The defendant admitted that he was aware that the intended recipient of his Snapchat message was 10 years old. The images were intercepted by the girl’s mother before they were viewed by the girl.
Dyer 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.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and the Maine State Police investigated the case.
DEA New England Field Division Announces Results of Two-Week New England SurgeRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: Drug overdoses are the leading cause of injury-related deaths in the United States and every day we see the impact that prescription drug abuse has on our neighborhoods. This crisis is destroying communities throughout New England and our nation. In an effort to address this epidemic, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New England Field Division (NEFD) recently conducted a two-week surge operation. During the operation, law enforcement made 645 arrests and seized 17.9 kilograms of fentanyl, 7,800 illicit fentanyl pills, 13.9 kilograms of cocaine, 3.1 kilograms of heroin, 2.5 kilograms of methamphetamine, 38.1 kilograms of marijuana, 51 firearms and $1.2 million in cash, announced Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle.
“DEA’s top priority is to aggressively pursue anyone who distributes these deadly drugs,” said SAC Boyle. “Those arrested need to be held accountable for their actions because they have chosen to distribute this poison and profit from the misery they spread.”
“Many Maine communities are battling the devastating effects of drug trafficking,” said Halsey B. Frank, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maine. “Fighting this scourge is one of the top priorities of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. We applaud the results of the recent New England surge operation and will continue working with DEA and our state and local partners to investigate and prosecute those who choose to distribute drugs in our state.”
The NEFD thanked its many local, state and federal law enforcement partners for their assistance during the two-week operation, and for their strong commitment to drug law enforcement in New England.
“Illegal drug distribution ravages the very foundations of our families and communities,” said SAC Boyle. “Every time we take fentanyl off the streets we save lives. These enforcement actions demonstrate the strength of collaborative local, state and federal law enforcement efforts in New England.”
Portland Man Sentenced for Possessing Child Pornography and Violating Supervised ReleaseRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: A Portland man was sentenced today in federal court in Portland for possessing child pornography and violating his supervised release, U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced.
U.S. District Judge George Z. Singal sentenced Joseph Holland, 33, to a total of 65 months in prison—51 months for possessing child pornography, and 14 months for violating the conditions of supervised release to which he was subject following a prior federal conviction. He pleaded guilty and admitted the supervised release violation on May 15, 2019.
According to court records, in January of this year, Holland was on supervised release after completing an 82-month sentence for drug and firearm offenses. Another individual on supervised release admitted to a U.S. Probation Officer that he had been using Holland’s cell phone, and that he had seen images of nudes that he thought could be minors on the phone. A review of Holland’s phone revealed numerous child pornography images.
The Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case, with assistance from U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services.
Old Orchard Beach Woman Sentenced to Prison for Social Security Fraud and Theft of Public MoneyRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: An Old Orchard Beach woman was sentenced today in federal court in Portland for Social Security fraud and theft of public money, U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced.
U.S. District Judge George Z. Singal sentenced Kelly L. McCabe, 36, to 12 months and one day imprisonment and three years of supervised release. She was also ordered to pay $101,400 in restitution to the Social Security Administration (SSA). She pleaded guilty on April 25, 2019.
According to court records, McCabe applied for Supplemental Security Income (“SSI”) on behalf of her two daughters, who were found eligible to receive such benefits in 2006 and 2008, respectively. SSI benefits are paid to people with limited income who are blind, disabled, or elderly. Beneficiaries who are unable to care for themselves may seek the appointment of a representative payee who is responsible for spending the beneficiary’s benefits on their day-to-day needs. McCabe was appointed representative payee for her two daughters.
In 2012, McCabe lost custody of her daughters and they were placed into the custody of the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families. After losing custody, McCabe continued to collect her daughters’ SSI benefits until July 2017, by concealing from the SSA her daughters’ absence from her home and her personal use of their benefits. McCabe was also a recipient of SSI benefits and her use of her daughters’ benefits reduced her eligibility to receive SSI benefits, resulting in an additional loss to the benefit program.
SSA’s Office of the Inspector General and the Fraud, Investigation and Recovery Unit of the Maine Department of Health and Human Services investigated the case.
Presque Isle Woman Pleads Guilty to Passing Counterfeit MoneyRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: A Presque Isle woman pleaded guilty today in Bangor to passing counterfeit money, U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced.
According to court records, in December of 2018, Vicky Leclerc, 28, contacted a person who was selling clothes on Facebook. Leclerc stated that she wished to purchase the clothes for $20 and the seller agreed. Subsequently, Leclerc met with the seller and paid for the clothes with a $50 bill. The seller later became suspicious that the $50 bill was counterfeit because it did not feel correct. She brought the bill to the Presque Isle Police Department who confirmed the bill was counterfeit. At the time of the sale, Leclerc was aware that the $50 bill was counterfeit.
The defendant 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.
The Presque Isle Police Department and the U.S. Secret Service investigated the case.
Department of Justice Awards More than $376 Million in Grants to Promote Public SafetyRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: The Department of Justice today announced that it has awarded more than $376 million in grant funding to enhance state, local and tribal law enforcement operations and reinforce public safety efforts in jurisdictions across the United States. Over $1.2 million will support public safety activities in the District of Maine. The awards were made by the Department’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP).
“Crime and violence hold families, friends and neighborhoods hostage, and they rip communities apart,” said OJP Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan. “These programs help restore the health and safety of crime-ravaged communities by supporting prevention activities, aiding in the apprehension and prosecution of perpetrators, facilitating appropriate sentencing and adjudication, and providing communities and their residents the means for recovery and healing.”
The awards announced today support an array of crime-fighting initiatives, including the quarter-billion dollar Edward Byrne Justice Assistance Grants Program, which funds public safety efforts in 929 state, local and tribal jurisdictions. Funding also supports sex offender registration and notification, law enforcement-based victim services, the testing of sexual assault kits, and programs designed to address youth with sexual behavioral problems. Other awards will focus on wrongful convictions, intellectual property enforcement, innovative prosecution strategies and the safety and effectiveness of corrections systems.
“I’m proud of the long-standing partnerships the Department of Justice has with state and local law enforcement agencies in Maine,” U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank said. “The grants announced today will help keep the people of Maine safe and ensure that those who commit crimes in our state are brought to justice.”
The following awards were made to jurisdictions in Maine:
Awardee
Amount of Award
State of Maine
$977,989
City of Portland
$96,898
City of Biddeford
$59,006
City of Lewiston
$38,577
City of Augusta
$36,865
Lincoln County
$10,728
For more information about the programs and awards announced today, visit the OJP Awards Data webpage.
OJP, directed by Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan, provides federal leadership, grants, training and technical assistance, and other resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime, assist victims and enhance the rule of law by strengthening the criminal and juvenile justice systems. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.
Maryland Man Sentenced to Prison for Credit Card OffensesRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: A Beltsville, Maryland man was sentenced today in federal court in Portland for his involvement in a conspiracy to use stolen credit card numbers, U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced.
U.S. District Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr., sentenced Marcellin N’Din, 36, to concurrent sentences of 22 months imprisonment and three years of supervised release on two access-device-fraud charges. He was also ordered to pay a $1,000 fine. The amount of restitution he will be ordered to pay to victims will be determined at a later date. He pleaded guilty on July 10, 2019.
According to court records, N’Din conspired with others to use counterfeit credit cards at Maine stores. N’Din himself used counterfeit cards to make purchases at several Maine stores in August 2018. A search of a hotel room used by a co-defendant, Bryan Boley, in January of this year led to the seizure of several dozen plastic cards, 47 of which had been fraudulently re-encoded; about 25 receipts showing purchases of gift cards and other items; and a credit card reader/writer.
Last week, Boley was sentenced to 22 months imprisonment and three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $1000 fine.
The U.S. Secret Service; the Maine State Police; and the Auburn, Brunswick, Cape Elizabeth and Yarmouth police departments investigated the case.
Sanford Man Pleads Guilty to Transferring Obscene Material to a MinorRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: A Sanford man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Portland to transferring obscene material to a minor, U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced.
According to court records, in October 2018, Dylan Neill, 38, used a social media application to send a series of videos and images to a minor under 16 years old. Several of the videos depicted Neill repeatedly penetrating the anus of an adult female with his fingers.
Neill faces up to 10 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.
The Sanford Police Department and the FBI investigated the case.
This 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.justice.gov/psc.
Rhode Island Man Pleads Guilty to Fraudulently Acquiring Firearms from a Licensed DealerRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: A Pawtucket, Rhode Island man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Portland to providing false information in connection with the acquisition of firearms from a licensed dealer, U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced.
According to court records, on five separate occasions between April 2018 and August 2018, Salvador Rodrigues, 22, purchased firearms from Kittery Trading Post. During each of the five purchases, Rodrigues presented an invalid Maine driver’s license and/or falsely claimed in writing that he had not been convicted of a felony offense. In fact, he had been convicted in Rhode Island of felony possession of a pistol without a license and a felony drug offense in May 2018.
Rodrigues faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on each of the five counts to which he pleaded guilty. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.
The Pawtucket Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). 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. For more information about PSN please visit www.justice.gov/psn.
Lewiston Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Cultivate and Distribute MarijuanaRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: A Lewiston man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Portland to conspiring to manufacture 100 or more marijuana plants and to distribute 100 or more kilograms of marijuana, U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced.
According to court records, Richard Daniels, 54, actively participated in a drug trafficking organization that operated in Androscoggin County and elsewhere between 2015 and February 2018. Members of the conspiracy cultivated and distributed large quantities of marijuana in violation of federal law, and under the cover of—but in violation of—Maine’s Medical Use of Marijuana program. The organization cultivated marijuana at numerous locations in Androscoggin County and distributed marijuana to people who were not participants in the medical marijuana program, including out-of-state customers. Daniels was involved with the distribution of bulk quantities of marijuana to the conspiracy’s customers, including those from outside of Maine.
On February 27, 2018, law enforcement officers searched Daniels’ residence and an adjacent garage. During the search, agents seized distributable quantities of marijuana, hash oil, approximately 41 sheets of butane hash oil, a money counter and other indicia of drug trafficking.
Daniels faces at least 5 years and up to 40 years 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.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the IRS Criminal Investigation Division investigated the case.
The prosecution is a result of the ongoing efforts by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Program, a partnership between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The OCDETF mission is to identify, investigate and prosecute high-level members of drug trafficking enterprises, bringing together the combined expertise and unique abilities of federal, state and local law enforcement.
Maryland Man Sentenced to Prison for Credit Card Fraud OffensesRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: A Takoma Park, Maryland man was sentenced today in federal court in Portland for his involvement in a conspiracy to use stolen credit card numbers, U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced.
U.S. District Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr., sentenced Bryan Boley, 33, to concurrent sentences of 22 months imprisonment and three years of supervised release on six access-device-fraud charges. He was also ordered to pay a $1000 fine. The amount of restitution he will be ordered to pay to victims will be determined at a later date. He pleaded guilty on May 16, 2019.
According to court records, Boley conspired with others to use counterfeit credit cards at Maine stores. He bought the credit card numbers online. A search of his hotel room in January of this year led to the seizure of several dozen plastic cards, 47 of which had been fraudulently re-encoded; about 25 receipts showing purchases of gift cards and other items; and a credit card reader/writer. At the time of his arrest, Boley had an additional 19 cards on his person, 17 of which had been re-encoded with credit card numbers that did not belong to him.
In pronouncing sentence, Judge Woodcock remarked on Boley’s “wasted potential,” noting that he was gifted with natural intelligence and had educated parents, but had used his talents for criminality.
A co-defendant, Marcellin N’Din, pleaded guilty on July 10, 2019, to two access-device-fraud offenses. His sentencing is scheduled for November 22, 2019.
The United States Secret Service; the Maine State Police; and the Auburn, Brunswick, Cape Elizabeth and Yarmouth police departments investigated the case.
Media Advisory: November 18 TRUST Program Event PostponedRead the Press Release
The TRUST Program event scheduled for November 18, 2019, at Gray-New Gloucester High School has been postponed. The event will be rescheduled, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office will issue a press release with details regarding the new date.
Frankfort Man Pleads Guilty to Attempting to Transfer Obscene Material to a MinorRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: A Frankfort, Maine man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Bangor to attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor, U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced.
According to court records, in April 2019, Nicholas Norwood, 33, used a mobile messaging service to send an image of his genitalia to an undercover federal agent posing as a 13-year-old girl.
Norwood faces up to 10 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.
The Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Waldo County Sheriff’s Office and the Maine State Police investigated the case.
This 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.justice.gov/psc.
Law Enforcement Officers Join Gray-New Gloucester High School Students for a Day of LearningRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced today that on November 18, 2019, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine, the Cumberland County District Attorney’s Office, the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office, the FBI, the Lewiston Police Department and the Portland Police Department will present the TRUST (Teach mutual Respect and Understanding through SimulaTion) Program to about 50 students at Gray-New Gloucester High School, located at 10 Libby Hill Road in Gray.
The TRUST Program offers students an opportunity to meet with representatives of the criminal justice community and ask them questions, share their perceptions of law enforcement and interact with law enforcement officers in a familiar setting. Law enforcement officers also provide students with their perspective on responding to dangerous or uncertain circumstances and the importance of remaining calm and following the officers’ directions in these situations.
The half-day program will start at 9:00 a.m. and conclude at about 1:00 p.m. It will include: (1) presentations about investigating, prosecuting and sentencing in criminal cases; (2) student role-playing exercises involving a call for service for a domestic disturbance complaint and a traffic stop; and (3) use of force simulations.
OPEN PRESS (except for the use of force simulations; simulator equipment will be made available to the press at the conclusion of the simulations). Students with media permissions will be identified.
NOTE: All media must RSVP to [email protected], arrive by 8:45 a.m. and possess a government-issued photo I.D. (such as a driver’s license) as well as valid media credentials.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. For more information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me.
Attorney General Announces Launch of Project Guardian – A Nationwide Strategic Plan to Reduce Gun ViolenceRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: Today, Attorney General William P. Barr announced the launch of Project Guardian, a new initiative designed to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws across the country. Specifically, Project Guardian focuses on investigating, prosecuting and preventing gun crimes.
Reducing gun violence and enforcing federal firearms laws have always been among the Department’s highest priorities. In order to develop a new and robust effort to promote and ensure public safety, the Department reviewed and adapted some of the successes of past strategies to curb gun violence. Project Guardian draws on the Department’s earlier achievements, such as the “Triggerlock” program, and it serves as a complement to the success of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). In addition, the initiative emphasizes the importance of using all technologies available to law enforcement to promote gun crime intelligence.
“Gun crime remains a pervasive problem in too many communities across America. Today, the Department of Justice is redoubling its commitment to tackling this issue through the launch of Project Guardian,” said Attorney General Barr. “Building on the success of past programs like Triggerlock, Project Guardian will strengthen our efforts to reduce gun violence by allowing the federal government and our state and local partners to better target offenders who use guns in crimes and those who try to buy guns illegally.”
Maine U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank said:
“Since 2001, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine has led the PSN Maine initiative by promoting an aggressive enforcement strategy, particularly in the areas of domestic violence and mental health, with an extensive community outreach campaign aimed at educating Maine citizens about federal gun laws. The strength of PSN Maine continues to be the involvement of dedicated and informed stakeholders who serve on a Task Force with representatives from throughout the State. I know my office looks forward to incorporating the good work of Project Guardian in seeking ways to reduce illegal gun possession and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.”
“ATF has a long history of strong partnerships in the law enforcement community,” said Acting Director Regina Lombardo. “Make no mistake, the women and men of ATF remain steadfast to our core mission of getting crime guns off of our streets. ATF and U.S. Attorneys nationwide will leverage these partnerships even further through enhanced community outreach initiatives and coordination with local, state, and tribal law enforcement and prosecutors to cut the pipeline of crime guns from those violent individuals who seek to terrorize our communities. Project Guardian will enhance ATF’s Crime Gun Intelligence, to include identifying, investigating and prosecuting those involved in the straw purchases of firearms, lying on federal firearms transaction forms, and those subject to the mental health prohibition of possessing firearms.”
Project Guardian’s implementation is based on five principles:
1) Coordinated Prosecution. Federal prosecutors and law enforcement will coordinate with state, local and tribal law enforcement and prosecutors to consider potential federal prosecution for new cases involving a defendant who: a) was arrested in possession of a firearm; b) is believed to have used a firearm in committing a crime of violence or drug trafficking crime prosecutable in federal court; or c) is suspected of committing violent crime(s) in the community on behalf of a criminal organization.
2) Enforcing the Background Check System. U.S. Attorneys, in consultation with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in their district, will create new, or review existing, guidelines for intake and prosecution of federal cases involving false statements (including lie-and-try, lie-and-buy, and straw purchasers) made during the acquisition or attempted acquisition of firearms from Federal Firearms Licensees. The guidelines will prioritize individuals convicted of violent felonies or misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence, individuals subject to protective orders, and individuals who are fugitives where the underlying offense is a felony or misdemeanor crime of domestic violence; individuals suspected of involvement in criminal organizations or of providing firearms to criminal organizations; and individuals involved in repeat denials.
3) Improved Information Sharing. On a regular basis, and as often as practicable given current technical limitations, ATF will provide to state law enforcement fusion centers a report listing individuals for whom the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) has issued denials, including the basis for the denial, so that state and local law enforcement can take appropriate steps under their laws.
4) Coordinated Response to Mental Health Denials. Each U.S. Attorney will ensure that whenever there is federal case information regarding individuals who are prohibited from possessing a firearm under the mental health prohibition, such information continues to be entered timely and accurately into the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices’ case-management system for prompt submission to NICS. ATF should engage in additional outreach to state and local law enforcement on how to use this denial information to better assure public safety. Additionally, U.S. Attorneys will consult with relevant district stakeholders to assess feasibility of adopting disruption of early engagement programs to address mental-health-prohibited individuals who attempt to acquire a firearm. U.S. Attorneys should consider, when appropriate, recommending court-ordered mental health treatment for any sentences issued to individuals prohibited based on mental health.
5) Crime Gun Intelligence Coordination. Federal, state, local, and tribal prosecutors and law enforcement will work together to ensure effective use of the ATF’s Crime Gun Intelligence Centers, and all related resources, to maximize the use of modern intelligence tools and technology. These tools can greatly enhance the speed and effectiveness in identifying trigger-pullers and finding their guns, but the success depends in large part on state, local, and tribal law enforcement partners sharing ballistic evidence and firearm recovery data with the ATF.
Federal law enforcement represents only about 15% of all law enforcement resources nationwide. Therefore, partnerships with state, local and tribal law enforcement and the communities they serve are critical to addressing gun crime. The Department recognizes that sharing information with our state, local and tribal law enforcement partners at every level will enhance public safety, and provide a greater depth of resources available to address gun crime on a national level.
For more information on Project Guardian, see the Attorney General’s memorandum at: https://www.justice.gov/ag/project-guardian-memo-2019/download.
DEA Announces Maine Practitioner Diversion Awareness TrainingRead the Press Release
Event will take place on Wednesday, November 6, 2019, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Augusta Civic Center – North Wing, 76 Community Drive, Augusta, Maine 04330
U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank to deliver opening remarks
Portland, Maine: Drug overdoses are the leading cause of injury-related deaths in the United States and every day we see the impact that prescription drug abuse has on our neighborhoods. This crisis is destroying communities throughout our nation. In an effort to address this epidemic, Drug Enforcement Administration New England Division Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle and co-sponsor, the Federation of State Medical Boards, present the Maine Practitioner Diversion Awareness Training.
This invitation-only training is for DEA-registered doctors, dentists, veterinarians, physician assistants and nurse practitioners. The objective is to provide information and tools to address prescription drug abuse and addiction. The training will include topics such as the role of DEA’s Diversion Control Division, Maine initiatives regarding the prescribing of opioids, identifying methods of diversion and red flags, the DEA license registration process, health care fraud and diversion, physician case study, the Maine Prescription Monitoring Program and effective medication assisted treatment.
The Maine Practitioner Diversion Awareness Training will be held Wednesday, November 6, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Augusta Civic Center – North Wing, 76 Community Drive, Augusta, Maine 04330. Check-in begins at 7:30 a.m. and a livestream of this event is available to DEA-registered practitioners.
U.S. Attorney for the District of Maine Halsey B. Frank and DEA New England Division Associate Special Agent in Charge Jon DeLena will be in attendance and available for comments to the media after opening remarks at 9:00 a.m. Gordon Smith, Maine Director of Opioid Response, will be available to the media after his presentation at 10:30 a.m.
Federal Jury Convicts Burlington Woman of Mailing Anthrax Threat to Sen. Susan CollinsRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Burlington, Maine woman was convicted today of mailing a threatening communication to Sen. Susan Collins following a one-day jury trial, U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced.
According to evidence presented at trial, Suzanne Muscara, 37, mailed a letter containing a white powder to Collins’ Bangor address in October 2018. The letter also contained a handwritten note indicating that the powder was anthrax. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service intercepted the letter at a mail sorting facility in Hampden, Maine. The FBI tested the white powder and found that it did not contain toxic substances. The FBI also matched a fingerprint found on the envelope with one of Muscara’s prints.
Muscara faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. She will be sentenced after completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Maine Office of State Fire Marshal and the Maine State Police.
DEA New England and Partners Collect over 46 Tons of Drugs and Vaping Materials During Take Back DayRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank joined the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration in announcing that DEA New England and its partners collected 92,875 pounds of prescription drugs, electronic vaping devices and cartridges during the 18th National Drug Take Back Day on October 26, 2019. The following is a breakdown of collected weights for the six New England states:
Maine – 31,180 lbs.
Massachusetts – 30,959 lbs.
New Hampshire – 12,266 lbs.
Connecticut – 6,958 lbs.
Vermont – 6,734 lbs.
Rhode Island – 4,778 lbs.
“Thanks to the public 46 tons of unwanted, expired, unused, unwanted prescription drugs, electronic vaping devices and cartridges have now been taken out of harm’s way across New England,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle. “These events are only made possible through the hard work of our law enforcement, coalitions and community partners and DEA thanks each and every one of them for their efforts.”
The 92,875 pounds of drugs and vaping materials collected last month is almost four times the 25,810 pounds of unwanted drugs that DEA New England and its partners collected during the first National Prescription Drug Take Back Day in September 2010.
DEA Issues Warning over Counterfeit Prescription Pills from MexicoRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank joined the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration in alerting the public to dangerous counterfeit pills killing Americans. Mexican drug cartels are manufacturing mass quantities of counterfeit prescription pills containing fentanyl, a dangerous synthetic opioid that is lethal in minute doses, for distribution throughout North America.
Based on a sampling of tablets seized nationwide between January and March 2019, DEA found that 27 percent contained potentially lethal doses of fentanyl.
“Capitalizing on the opioid epidemic and prescription drug abuse in the United States, drug trafficking organizations are now sending counterfeit pills made with fentanyl in bulk to the United States for distribution,” said DEA Acting Administrator Uttam Dhillon. “Counterfeit pills that contain fentanyl and fentanyl-laced heroin are responsible for thousands of opioid-related deaths in the United States each year.”
Fentanyl and other highly potent synthetic opioids remain the primary driver behind the ongoing opioid crisis, with fentanyl involved in more deaths than any other illicit drug.
“Buying drugs from street dealers is deadly especially when fentanyl is disguised as a real pharmaceutical,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle. “The DEA and our local, state and federal law enforcement partners stand committed to taking deadly fentanyl off the streets of New England and ensuring those who manufacture and traffic these lethal pills are held accountable to the communities and families they damage with this poison.”
A lethal dose of fentanyl is estimated to be about two milligrams, but can vary based on an individual’s body size, tolerance, amount of previous usage and other factors. The full Fentanyl Signature Profiling Program Report on the recent drug sampling and testing is available here: https://go.usa.gov/xp2dJ.
Sabattus Man Sentenced for Federal Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: A Sabattus man was sentenced today in federal court in Portland for possessing a stolen firearm and possessing a firearm after being convicted of a felony, U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced.
U.S. District Judge D. Brock Hornby sentenced Scott Estes, 39, to three years in prison and three years of supervised release. Estes pleaded guilty on June 17, 2019.
According to court records, on November 13, 2017, Lewiston dispatchers received a 911 call from Estes’ then-girlfriend, who was in a truck in which he had been a passenger. He was not in the truck at the time of the call. His girlfriend reported that he had a firearm and that he had pointed it at her. When he returned to the truck, his girlfriend remained on the call, pretending to be speaking to a credit card company. She conveyed their location and where they were going.
When the police arrived, Estes fled into a nearby apartment and a seven-hour standoff ensued. The Maine State Police Tactical Team negotiated a peaceful end to the standoff. Investigators recovered the firearm, a Smith & Wesson .380 caliber semi-automatic pistol, from the apartment into which he had fled. Further investigation revealed that it was stolen.
Estes was also prohibited from possessing the firearm because of multiple prior felony convictions, including ones for trafficking in prison contraband, robbery and aggravated operating after revocation.
The Maine State Police; the Lewiston Police Department; and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case.
Kittery Man Pleads Guilty to Child Sexual Exploitation OffenseRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: A Kittery man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Portland to transporting images of child exploitation, U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced.
According to court records, in September 2018, Thomas Stewart, 31, 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 of last year, 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.
Stewart faces a sentence of no less than five years and up to 20 years in prison. He also faces a $250,000 fine and from five years to a lifetime of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.
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 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. 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.
Federal Jury Convicts Former Video Store Owner of Selling Counterfeit DVDsRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: A Mattawamkeag man was convicted yesterday of mail fraud and two counts of copyright infringement following a seven-day jury trial, U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced.
According to evidence presented at trial, Douglas Gordon, 52, the former owner of a chain of video rental stores in eastern Maine, operated three websites from which he made more than $640,000 in sales of over 48,000 counterfeit copies of copyright-protected motion pictures. Representatives of MGM, CBS, Disney, Mercury Pictures and other copyright owners testified that Gordon did not have permission to reproduce and distribute the movies. A senior investigator employed by the Motion Picture Association identified the DVDs as counterfeit.
Based on undercover purchases made from the three websites, execution of search warrants and forensic analysis of computers, investigators from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) identified Gordon as the operator of the online businesses. A series of customers testified at trial that they expected based on website advertisements to receive authorized DVD movies with cover art and a plastic case, but instead received a paper envelope with nothing more than a burned disc with a laser-etched movie title. Several of Gordon’s former video store employees also provided evidence of his unlawful reproduction.Gordon faces up to 20 years in prison for the mail fraud offense, an additional three years for each of the copyright infringement offenses, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. He will be sentenced after completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.
HSI investigated the case, with assistance from the Maine Attorney General’s Office, the Brewer Police Department, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Better Business Bureau.
South Portland Man Sentenced to Prison for Trafficking in Counterfeit Pills and Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: A South Portland man was sentenced today in federal court in Portland for holding for sale a counterfeit drug and possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced.
U.S. District Judge D. Brock Hornby sentenced Colin Harle, 23, to five years in prison and three years of supervised release. Harle pleaded guilty on July 15, 2019.
According to court records, on August 27, 2018, law enforcement officers arrested Harle in South Portland following his attempted sale of counterfeit alprazolam (commonly sold under the brand name Xanax) pills. After Harle’s arrest, officers learned that he had a safe under his control. Officers located the safe in Westbrook and found about 20,000 counterfeit pills, $5,480 in U.S. currency, and a 9 mm pistol with two full magazines.
The Food and Drug Administration’s Forensic Chemistry Center confirmed that alprazolam was present in the pills and that the pills were counterfeit.
FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations and the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency investigated the case.
Augusta Man Pleads Guilty to Robbery ChargesRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: An Augusta man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Bangor to four counts of interfering with commerce by robbery, U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced.
According to court records, on February 25, 2019, and on July 17, 20 and 23, 2019, Barry Grant, Jr., 38, robbed four different Augusta businesses at knife point. On each occasion he fled the scene with cash from the register. Grant was arrested by Augusta Police while fleeing the July 23 robbery.
Grant faces up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release for each count. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.
The Augusta Police Department and the FBI investigated the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). 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. For more information about PSN please visit www.justice.gov/psn.
Accounting Firm Sentenced for Failing to File Cash Transaction FormsRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: A Lewiston accounting firm was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Portland for failing to file cash transaction forms, U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced.
U.S. District Judge George Z. Singal sentenced Leonardo & Co., P.A. to one year of probation. The company was also fined $15,000 and ordered to forfeit $12,500. The company pleaded guilty on June 12, 2019.
According to court records, in 2017, Leonardo & Co. wrote four checks, each in the amount of $12,500, to a member of a marijuana trafficking organization. The checks were drawn on accounts associated with the firm. The payments did not involve a tax refund or payment for any services rendered to the firm. Instead, on each occasion, the company exchanged the checks for $12,500 in cash.
Because the checks involved the receipt of more than $10,000 in U.S. currency, federal law required Leonardo & Co. to file a report commonly known as a Form 8300. The company failed to file reports as required by federal law and as a result intentionally evaded the mandated reporting requirements.The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the IRS Criminal Investigation Division investigated the case.
The prosecution is a result of the ongoing efforts by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Program, a partnership between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. The OCDETF mission is to identify, investigate, and prosecute high-level members of drug trafficking enterprises, bringing together the combined expertise and unique abilities of federal, state, and local law enforcement.
New York Man Sentenced for Fraud and Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: A New York man was sentenced on Tuesday in federal court in Bangor for bank fraud, using other people’s Social Security numbers, and aggravated identity theft.
U.S. District Judge Lance E. Walker sentenced Mark Pignatello, 55, of Yonkers, New York, to 52 months in prison and three years of supervised release. Pignatello pled guilty on April 24, 2019. Pignatello was also ordered to pay $20,893 in restitution.
According to court records, over three days in October 2018, Pignatello traveled across Maine and New Hampshire, visiting branches of People’s United Bank, at which he would pass or attempt to pass counterfeit checks. These checks were made out to individuals other than Pignatello. In order to facilitate his scheme, Pignatello used the Social Security numbers and other personal information of these individuals to impersonate them, as well as counterfeit driver’s licenses bearing his image, but with their personal information. Pignatello was ultimately apprehended by the Newport, Maine police outside of the Newport branch of People’s United Bank, where his activity had been identified as fraudulent.
The U.S. Secret Service and the Bangor, Newport, and Orono Police Departments investigated the case.
Presque Isle Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearm OffenseRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: A Presque Isle man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Bangor to possession of a firearm by an unlawful user of controlled substances, U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced.
According to court records, Samual Mathers, 33, was pulled over while riding as a passenger in a vehicle on April 3, 2018. Officers searched him and found a loaded firearm, methamphetamine and a methamphetamine pipe on his person. He admitted to being an addict who had been using daily for over a year. He also admitted to possessing multiple firearms. A subsequent search of his home revealed over a dozen firearms and ammunition.
Mathers faces up to 10 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Drug Enforcement Administration; and the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency investigated the case.
DEA to Accept Electronic Vaping Devices and Cartridges as Part of National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on SaturdayRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank joined the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration in announcing that DEA will once again conduct one of its most popular community programs: National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. On Saturday, October 26, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., the public can dispose of their expired, unused, and unwanted prescription medications at 594 collection sites throughout New England, operated by local law enforcement agencies and other community partners. The service is free of charge, no questions asked and most of these collection sites can be found in the lobby of your local Police Department. To find a collection site near you go to: www.DEATakeBack.com.
For the first time, DEA will now accept vaping devices and cartridges at any of its drop-off locations during National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. It is important to note that DEA cannot accept devices containing lithium ion batteries. If batteries cannot be removed prior to drop-off, DEA encourages individuals to consult with stores that recycle lithium ion batteries.
Concerns have been raised across the United States over illnesses and death caused by vaping and the high youth vaping initiation rates. In an effort to support a healthy lifestyle and energetic population, especially among America’s youth, DEA is committed to doing all it can to help safely dispose of vaping devices and substances.
This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. DEA launched its prescription drug take back program when both the Environmental Protection Agency and the Food and Drug Administration advised the public that flushing these drugs down the toilet or throwing them in the trash posed potential safety and health hazards.
“Our take-back events highlight the problems associated to prescription drug abuse and gives our citizens an opportunity to contribute to the solution,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle. “These efforts help remove unwanted, expired and unused prescription pills that can be abused, stolen or resold which helps our continued dedication to combat the prescription pill, fentanyl and heroin epidemic of substance abuse and addiction.”
“I encourage all Mainers to take advantage of Drug Take Back Day,” said U.S. Attorney Frank. “The Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorney’s Office are deeply committed to combatting the opioid epidemic. Misuse of prescription drugs is a significant contributor to this crisis, and proper disposal of these drugs will ensure that they cannot be abused.”
Last April, during its 17th Take Back Day, DEA’s New England Field Division participated in the drug take back day and, over the course of four hours, 89,366.3 pounds—over 44 tons—of expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs were collected at 583 collection sites throughout New England.
The following was the breakdown of collected weights for the six New England states:
CT 8,361.8
MA 28,117.5
ME 27,680
NH 14,180
RI 4,465
VT 6,562
TOTAL 89,366.3 pounds
For more information about the harms of youth vaping, please visit: https://www.justthinktwice.gov/facts/vaping-what-you-should-know.
Carthage Man Sentenced for Federal Firearm OffenseRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: A Carthage, Maine man was sentenced today in federal court in Bangor for possessing a firearm after being convicted of a felony, U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced.
U.S. District Judge Lance E. Walker sentenced Michael Ringer, 55, to 3 years in prison and 3 years of supervised release. Ringer pleaded guilty on March 7, 2019.
According to court records, on August 17, 2018, the Wilton Police Department responded to the scene of a 911 call regarding alleged threats with a firearm and shots fired. Officers learned that Ringer was intoxicated and had gotten into an argument at a social gathering. Several individuals at the gathering had seen him with a handgun. By the time officers arrived, he had left.
The following day, officers found Ringer at his home. A search of his residence resulted in the seizure of a .380 caliber pistol belonging to him. He was prohibited from possessing firearms because of multiple prior felony convictions, including one for possession of a firearm by a felon.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and the Wilton Police Department.
Department of Justice Awards More than $85.3 Million in Grants to Address School ViolenceRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: Today, the Department of Justice announced it has awarded more than $85.3 million to bolster school security—including funding to educate and train students and faculty—and support first responders who arrive on the scene of a school shooting or other violent incident.
“These federal resources will help to prevent school violence and give our students the support they need to learn, grow, and thrive,’ said Attorney General William P. Barr. “By training faculty, students and first responders, and by improving school security measures, we can make schools and their communities safer.”
The grants award more than $1.25 million in funding to prevent violence in Maine schools. The following school administrative units received funding under the School Violence Prevention Program of the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office):
Awardee
Amount of Award
School Administrative District 15
(Gray, New Gloucester)
$494,850
Regional School Unit No. 52
(Greene, Leeds, Turner)
$324,108
Sanford School Department
$216,221
School Administrative District 30
(Lee, Springfield, Webster, Winn)
$181,767
Regional School Unit No. 38
(Manchester, Mount Vernon, Readfield, Wayne)
$40,500
“These grants to Maine schools will assist local districts in preventing violence in schools and enhancing the safety of Maine schoolchildren, U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank said. “The Department of Justice, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, are committed to working with our local partners to ensure schools are safe places in which to learn. In particular, we believe that current best practice is the use of multi-disciplinary teams to assess and respond to school threats.”
President Trump signed the STOP School Violence Act into law in March 2018, authorizing grants that are designed to improve threat assessments, train students and faculty to provide tips and leads, and prepare law enforcement officers and emergency professionals to respond to school shootings and other violent incidents. The grant programs are managed by the Bureau of Justice Assistance and the COPS Office.
The Bureau of Justice Assistance, within the Department’s Office of Justice Programs, and the COPS Office manage the programs and administer the grants, which include funds to:
- Develop school threat assessment teams and pursue technological solutions to improve reporting of suspicious activity in and around schools;
- Implement or improve school safety measures, including coordination with law enforcement, as well as the use of metal detectors, locks, lighting and other deterrent measures;
- Train law enforcement to help deter student violence against others and themselves;
- Improve notification to first responders through implementation of technology that expedites emergency notifications;
- Develop and operate anonymous reporting systems to encourage safe reporting of potential school threats;
- Train school officials to intervene when mentally ill individuals threaten school safety; and
- Provide training and technical assistance to schools and other awardees in helping implement these programs.
For more details about these individual award programs, as well as listings of individual 2019 awardees, visit https://go.usa.gov/xVJuV
About the Office of Justice Programs:
The Office of Justice Programs, directed by Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan, provides federal leadership, grants, training, technical assistance and other resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime, assist victims and enhance the rule of law by strengthening the criminal justice system. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.
About the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services:
The COPS Office is a federal agency responsible for advancing community policing nationwide. Since 1994, the COPS Office has invested more than $14 billion to advance community policing, including grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of approximately 130,000 officers and provide a variety of knowledge resource products including publications, training and technical assistance. For additional information about the COPS Office, please visit www.cops.usdoj.gov.
Justice Department Awards over $270 Million to Improve Public Safety, Serve Crime Victims in American Indian and Alaska Native CommunitiesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – The Department of Justice announced today that it has awarded over $273.4 million in grants to improve public safety, serve victims of crime, combat violence against women and support youth programs in American Indian and Alaska Native communities.
“Violent crime and domestic abuse in American Indian and Alaska Native communities remain at unacceptably high levels, and they demand a response that is both clear and comprehensive,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “We will continue to work closely with our tribal partners to guarantee they have the resources they need to curb violence and bring healing to the victims most profoundly affected by it.”
In Maine, the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians was awarded $899,863 in funding as part of the Violence Against Women Tribal Governments Program.
Nationwide, 236 grants were awarded to 149 American Indian tribes, Alaska Native villages and other tribal designees through the Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation, a streamlined application for tribal-specific grant programs. Of the $118 million awarded via CTAS, just over $62.6 million comes from the Office of Justice Programs, about $33.1 million from the Office on Violence Against Women and more than $23.2 million from the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services. A portion of the funding will support tribal youth mentoring and intervention services, help native communities implement requirements of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, and provide training and technical assistance to tribal communities. Another $5.5 million was funded by OJP’s Bureau of Justice Assistance to provide training and technical assistance to CTAS awardees.
The Department also announced awards and other programming totaling $167.2 million in a set-aside program to serve victims of crime. The awards are intended to help tribes develop, expand and improve services to victims by supporting programming and technical assistance. About $25.6 million of these awards were awarded under CTAS and are included in the $118 million detailed above.
In Maine, the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Indian Township was awarded over $197,000 for the coordination and expansion of an existing victim service program.
“I congratulate our tribal partners on their successful grant applications,” said U.S. Attorney Halsey Frank. “The grants will assist the tribes in addressing violence in their communities and providing much-needed services to victims.”
“The Passamaquoddy Tribe – Indian Township is excited to receive nearly $200,000 in funding to expand our services, said Governor William J. Nicholas Sr. “Our community is thankful for the grant award, and continued support for victims in Indian Country.”
CTAS funding helps tribes develop and strengthen their justice systems’ response to crime, while expanding services to meet their communities’ public safety needs. The awards cover 10 purpose areas: public safety and community policing; justice systems planning; alcohol and substance abuse; corrections and correctional alternatives; children’s justice act partnerships; services for victims of crime; violence against women; juvenile justice; violent crime reduction; and tribal youth programs.
The Department also provided $6.1 million to help tribes to comply with federal law on sex offender registration and notification, $1.7 million in separate funding to assist tribal youth and nearly $500,000 to support tribal research on missing and murdered indigenous women and children and other public safety-related topics.
Today’s announcement is part of the Justice Department’s ongoing initiative to increase engagement, coordination and action on public safety in American Indian and Alaska Native communities.
A listing of today’s announced CTAS awards is available at: https://www.justice.gov/tribal/awards. A listing of all other announced tribal awards is available at: https://go.usa.gov/xVJuE.
Turner Man Pleads Guilty to Charges Stemming from Marijuana CultivationRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Turner man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Portland to manufacturing 100 or more marijuana plants, possessing with intent to distribute marijuana, possessing an unregistered silencer and transferring property subject to forfeiture, U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced.
According to court records, on February 27, 2018, law enforcement officers searched the residence of Andrew Waite, 31, and two warehouses under his control. In the warehouses, agents seized more than 500 pounds of marijuana, 104 sheets of marijuana concentrate and more than 350 marijuana plants. In Waite’s residence, agents seized approximately 100 pounds of marijuana, approximately $216,000 in U.S. currency, a 2010 Ferrari, firearms, ammunition and a silencer with no markings or serial number.
On April 18, 2018, Waite transferred title of his residence to his brother in order to prevent or impair seizure of the property for criminal forfeiture.
Waite faces at least five years and up to 40 years in prison and a fine of $5,000,000 on the marijuana manufacturing charge; up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 on the silencer possession charge; and up to five years in jail and a fine of up to $250,000 on each of the marijuana possession and property transfer charges. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the IRS Criminal Investigation Division investigated the case.
The prosecution is a result of the ongoing efforts by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Program, a partnership between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The OCDETF mission is to identify, investigate and prosecute high-level members of drug trafficking enterprises, bringing together the combined expertise and unique abilities of federal, state and local law enforcement.
Levant Man Sentenced on Federal Firearms ChargeRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: A Levant, Maine man was sentenced today in federal court in Bangor for possessing a firearm after having been convicted of a felony crime, United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced.
U.S. District Court Judge Lance E. Walker sentenced Damian A. Ouellette, 27, to six years in prison and three years of supervised release. Ouellette pleaded guilty on January 30, 2019.
According to court records, on November 2, 2018, deputies responded to a report of domestic violence at Ouellette’s Levant residence, where they recovered a 9 mm pistol that he hid in a bin of clothes in his bedroom. Ouellette was prohibited from possessing the firearm because he had three prior felony convictions for robbery and theft.
The Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. The case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). 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. For more information about PSN please visit www.justice.gov/psn.
Brewer Man Pleads Guilty to Child Sexual Exploitation OffenseRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: A former Brewer resident pleaded guilty today in federal court in Bangor to possessing images of child exploitation, U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced.
According to court records, Joseph L. Messier, 55, possessed videos of children engaging in sexually explicit conduct, which he had purposefully sought out and received through the internet sometime between January 2018 and March 2018. These videos depicted the sexual exploitation of prepubescent children under the age of 12.
Messier faces an enhanced sentence of 10–20 years in prison as a result of a prior sex offense conviction. He also faces a $250,000 fine and from five years to a lifetime of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and the Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit investigated this case. The 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. 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.
Newport Man Pleads Guilty to Theft of a FirearmRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: A Newport man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Bangor to stealing a firearm from a federally licensed firearms dealer, U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced.
According to court records, Adam Shawley, 33, entered the shop of a licensed dealer in Newport, went behind the counter, and stole at least one firearm. The dealer later received both text messages and phone calls from Shawley acknowledging that he had stolen firearms from the shop.
Shawley faces up to 10 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.
The Newport Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case.
New York Man Sentenced to Prison for Conspiring to Distribute Crack, Heroin and FentanylRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: A Rochester, New York man was sentenced today in federal court in Bangor for conspiring to distribute cocaine base, heroin and fentanyl, U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced.
U.S. District Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. sentenced Jamie Betances, a/k/a “Booger,” 33, to 126 months in prison and three years of supervised release. Betances pleaded guilty on October 16, 2018.
According to court records, between June 2015 and March 2017, Betances conspired with others to acquire crack, heroin and fentanyl in Rochester and transport it to central Maine for distribution. Betances traveled from Rochester to manage the Maine operation, overseeing distribution of drugs from 12 to 15 area “trap houses.”
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency and the Kennebec County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case, with assistance provided by the Augusta Police Department. This case was investigated and prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s Strategy to Combat the Opioid Epidemic.
Lewiston Woman Sentenced for Conspiracy to Manufacture MarijuanaRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: A Lewiston woman was sentenced today in federal court in Portland for conspiring to manufacture marijuana, U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced.
U.S. District Judge George Z. Singal sentenced Stephanie Beck, 41, to 60 days in prison and three years of supervised release. Beck pleaded guilty on April 8, 2019.
According to court records, Beck was licensed by the State of Maine Department of Professional & Financial Regulation as a Certified Clinical Supervisor and an Alcohol and Drug Counselor. Between December 1, 2017, and February 27, 2018, she provided patient names (including the names of MaineCare recipients) to a nurse practitioner, who in turn created fraudulent medical marijuana certifications. These certifications allowed a marijuana trafficking conspiracy to illegally cultivate marijuana plants under the cover of the Maine Medical Use of Marijuana Program.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Office of Inspector General; the Healthcare Crimes Unit of the Maine Office of Attorney General; and the IRS Criminal Investigation Division investigated the case.
Lyman Man Sentenced for Unlawful Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: A Lyman man was sentenced today in federal court in Portland for possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced.
U.S. District Judge George Z. Singal sentenced David Alexandre, 26, to five years in prison and five years of supervised release. Alexandre pleaded guilty on June 25, 2019.
According to court records, on February 28, 2018, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at a residence in Lyman. Alexandre was staying in one of the bedrooms. During the search, agents seized distributable quantities of methamphetamine, approximately $2,100 in U.S. currency and a Smith & Wesson 9 mm pistol. Alexandre admitted possessing the firearm to protect himself, his drugs and the proceeds from his drug trafficking.
The FBI’s Southern Maine Gang Task Force, the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, the Maine State Police and the York County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.