District of Maine
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Portland Man Pleads Guilty to Holding for Sale Counterfeit Drugs and Possessing a Firearm in Furtherance of Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Colin Harle, 23, of Portland, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to holding for sale counterfeit drugs and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
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 Harle had a safe in a wooded area in Westbrook, Maine. Officers located the safe and found about 20,000 counterfeit pills marked “Xanax 2,” $5,480 in United States currency, and a 9mm pistol with two fully-loaded magazines.
The Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) Forensic Chemistry Center confirmed the presence of alprazolam in the pills and that the pills were counterfeit.
“American consumers rely on FDA oversight to ensure the safety, efficacy, and authenticity of their prescription medications. Illegally dispensing counterfeit prescription drugs places consumers’ health at risk,” said Jeffrey Ebersole, Special Agent in Charge, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations’ New York Field Office. “We are committed to pursuing and bringing to justice those who jeopardize the public health by distributing these potentially dangerous products.”
“Traffickers who keep loaded guns with their illegal drugs should expect to be caught and prosecuted,” said U.S. Attorney Frank.
The defendant faces up to ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine on the counterfeit drug charge and between five years and life in prison and a $250,000 fine on the firearm charge. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.
This case was investigated by FDA Office of Criminal Investigations; the Westbrook Police Department; and the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency.
New York Man Pleads Guilty to Heroin and Crack Trafficking and Conspiring to Violate Firearms LawsRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Deondray Warren, a/k/a “Main,” a/k/a “Maine,” 33, of Rochester, New York, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to conspiring to distribute heroin and cocaine base, commonly known as “crack,” distributing heroin and crack, and conspiring to violate federal firearms laws.
According to court records, between November 2016 and September 2017, Warren conspired with others from Rochester and Central Maine to distribute heroin and crack. The drugs were acquired in Rochester and Warren and others distributed the drugs in Central Maine. On May 1, 2017, Warren sold crack and heroin to an individual working with law enforcement. In addition, between February and May, 2017, the defendant conspired with co-defendant Rashaad McKinney and others to conduct straw purchases of 12 firearms from two Central Maine firearms dealers.
The defendant faces up to 20 years in prison, between three years and life on supervised release, and a $1,000,000 fine on the two drug charges and up to five years imprisonment, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine on the firearms charge.
On February 26, 2109, McKinney pled guilty to the two conspiracy charges and awaits sentencing.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; and the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency and is being prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s program to combat the opioid epidemic.
Nepalese Man Pleads Guilty to Marriage Fraud ChargesRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Eilove Shrestha, 28, recently of Cupertino, California, pled guilty today in U.S. District Court to marriage fraud and to conspiracy to commit marriage fraud.
According to court records, on June 20, 2018, Shrestha, a Nepalese citizen then lawfully in the United States in a temporary status, agreed to pay a United States citizen $13,000 to marry him so he could obtain permanent resident status, also known as, a “green card.” Four days later, Shrestha flew to Maine and the two were married the next day. Before and after the wedding, Shrestha paid the United States citizen hundreds of dollars via wire transfers, while he continued to live and work in another state.
Shrestha faces up to five 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.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and the Brewer Police Department.
Westbrook Man Pleads Guilty to Two Bank Robbery ChargesRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Aaron West, 38, of Westbrook, Maine pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to two counts of bank robbery. The charges arose from robberies in January 2018 and March 2019 of a credit union in Falmouth and a bank in Portland, respectively.
According to court records, on January 31, 2018, the defendant entered the Cumberland County Federal Credit Union in Falmouth, Maine. Holding his right hand in his sweatshirt pocket in a manner consistent with carrying a concealed weapon, the defendant approached a teller and told her, “this is a robbery, no dye packs.” The defendant obtained $16,250.00 in the robbery. The defendant was subsequently arrested for that robbery and a federal grand jury indicted him in November, 2018. West was released on bail. On March 14, 2019, the defendant became a fugitive from justice because he violated the conditions of his bail and a warrant issued for his arrest.
On March 18, 2019, while in fugitive status, the defendant entered a Norway Savings Bank in Portland, Maine. The defendant held his right hand in his sweatshirt pocket, in a manner consistent with carrying a concealed weapon. The defendant told the teller, “give me the money,” and after first receiving a small amount of money, demanded “more” and threatened to “start shooting.” The defendant obtained $1,400.00 in the robbery.
The defendant faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each robbery. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI and the Falmouth, Portland and Westbrook Police Departments.
Biddeford Man Sentenced to Nine Years for Conspiracy to Commit Sex Trafficking of a MinorRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Isaac Suero, 23, of Biddeford, Maine, was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court by Judge Nancy Torresen to nine years in prison and five years of supervised release for conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of a minor. Suero also was ordered to pay $750 in restitution to the victim of the offense. Suero pleaded guilty on January 16, 2019.
Court records reveal that on April 19, 2017, Suero and the victim, who was 15 years old at the time, connected online. Thereafter, Suero and three others picked the victim up at a Hannaford store and drove her to a private residence in the Bangor area. While there, there was a discussion about prostitution, and it was suggested that the victim, who had no money, would engage in prostitution with Suero’s assistance and give him a portion of the money. Suero paid for a hotel room in Bangor for the victim and another adult female, and between April 20 and 22, the 15-year-old victim engaged in multiple commercial sex acts, giving a portion of the proceeds to Suero. On April 22, Suero paid an associate to drive him and the victim from Bangor to a motel in Scarborough, Maine, where Suero introduced the victim to his mother, Lourdes Suero. Isaac Suero left the victim at the motel with his mother, and the victim continued to engage in commercial sex acts in the Scarborough area. Lourdes Suero pleaded guilty in March to using a facility of interstate commerce with the intent to promote prostitution and is scheduled to be sentenced in August.
The District of Maine is one of six districts designated through a competitive, nationwide selection process as a Phase II Anti-Trafficking Coordination Team (ACTeam), through the interagency ACTeam Initiative of the Departments of Justice, Homeland Security and Labor. ACTeams focus on developing high-impact human trafficking investigations and prosecutions involving forced labor, international sex trafficking and sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion through interagency collaboration among federal prosecutors and federal investigative agencies.
This case was investigated by the Southern Maine Gang Task Force, which is comprised of investigators from the FBI; the Portland, South Portland and Lewiston Police Departments; the York County Sheriff’s Office; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. The Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Office and District Attorney’s Office also provided assistance.
Saco Man Sentenced to 27 Months for Selling an Unregistered Explosive DeviceRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Michael Rickett, 23, of Saco, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge D. Brock Hornby to 27 months in prison and three years of supervised release for selling an unregistered destructive device. Rickett pled guilty to the charge on February 21, 2019.
According to the government’s evidence, on July 10, 2017, concerned citizens reported to the Saco Police Department that Rickett asked them to purchase an explosive device. The next day, a federal agent, acting in an undercover capacity, called Rickett. Rickett offered to sell a “military grade IED” to the agent for $350. Two days later, the agent purchased a homemade explosive device from Rickett. A forensic laboratory examination confirmed that the device was an explosive bomb.
The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency; and the Portland and Saco Police Departments.
Hampden Man Pleads Guilty to Credit Union RobberyRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Ronald Tilley, 59, of Hampden, Maine, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to robbing a credit union.
According to court records, on March 27, 2019, the defendant entered the back door of the Down East Credit Union in Bangor, Maine. He was wearing a dark mask covering his mouth, a hooded sweatshirt, sunglasses, and dark gloves. The defendant demanded money from the tellers, and stated that he had a gun and would shoot if they did not comply. The defendant obtained more than $8,700. A search warrant executed at the defendant’s residence in Hampden, Maine revealed cash stolen from the credit union. The defendant was subsequently apprehended by law enforcement in Connecticut and confessed to the robbery.
The defendant faces up to 20 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 case was investigated by the Bangor Police Department, the Hampden Police Department and the FBI.
Brewer Man Sentenced to Three Years for Lying to a Federal Firearms DealerRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Floyd Chase, 49, of Brewer, Maine, was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court by Judge Nancy Torresen to three years in prison and three years of supervised release for conspiracy to make false statements to a federal firearms licensee. He pled guilty on November 26, 2018.
According to court records, in late February 2018, Brewer police seized a .380 caliber handgun, crack and heroin while executing a narcotics trafficking search warrant at his residence. A trace of the firearm revealed that it had been purchased about ten days earlier at an area firearms dealer. The ensuing investigation revealed that the defendant and at least two others agreed to lie to the dealer about who was the actual purchaser of the firearm, when, in fact, it was the defendant.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and the Brewer Police Department, with assistance provided by the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office.
Sabattus Man Pleads Guilty to Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Scott Estes, 38, of Sabattus, Maine pled guilty yesterday in U.S. District Court to possessing a stolen firearm and possessing a firearm after having been convicted of felony offenses.
According to court records, on November 13, 2017, Lewiston dispatchers received a 911 call from Estes’ then-girlfriend who was then located in a truck in which Estes has been a passenger. Estes was not in the truck at the time of the call. Estes’ girlfriend reported that Estes had a firearm and that he had pointed it at her. When Estes returned to the truck, his girlfriend remained on the call pretended to be speaking to a credit card company. She conveyed where they were and where they were going. When the police arrived, Estes fled into a nearby apartment and a seven hour stand-off ensued. The Maine State Police tactical team negotiated a peaceful end to the standoff. The firearm, a Smith & Wesson .380 semi-automatic pistol, was recovered from the apartment into which Estes had fled. Further investigation revealed that it was stolen.
Estes was also prohibited from possessing the firearm because of prior felony convictions for, among others, trafficking in prison contraband, robbery, and aggravated operating after revocation.
Estes faces up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.
The case was investigated by the Maine State Police; the Lewiston Police Department; and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Owner of Lewiston Counseling Agency Convicted of Health Care FraudRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine. United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced Nancy Ludwig, 65, of Lewiston, Maine, was convicted in U.S. District Court following a 5-day jury trial of health care fraud conspiracy, paying kickbacks, using fraudulent medical documents, and obstructing an audit.
According to testimony at trial, Ludwig was the owner of Facing Change, a mental health and substance abuse counseling agency in Lewiston. Abdirashid Ahmed was a Somali interpreter. From about November 2015 until May 2018, Ludwig conspired with Ahmed and others to commit health care fraud. The evidence showed that beginning in February 2015, Ludwig agreed to pay Ahmed a kickback in return for Ahmed bringing MaineCare beneficiaries to Facing Change. Ahmed and other employees at Facing Change then submitted false claims to MaineCare for counseling and interpreter services. In 2016, in response to a MaineCare regulatory change, Ludwig and Ahmed conspired to change the diagnosis of many of those clients to schizophrenia so they could remain eligible to receive MaineCare reimbursement for services at Facing Change. In 2016, auditors with the MaineCare Program Integrity Unit audited Facing Change. Ludwig and many of her employees conspired to manufacture false records in an attempt to deceive the auditor. The fraud continued until May 1, 2018 when federal and state agents executed search warrants at Facing Change and Ahmed’s business.
Ludwig faces up to ten years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. She will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.
On May 24, 2019, Ahmed pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit health care fraud. In addition to Ahmed and Ludwig’s convictions, five other individuals have been convicted of federal health care crime felonies for their involvement in this case and two other individuals have agreed to civil settlements.
These convictions and civil settlements are the result of a three-year collaborative investigation conducted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General, the FBI, and the Maine State Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. The investigation started because of the auditing work done by the MaineCare Program Integrity Unit.
Massachusetts Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl TraffickingRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Cameron Soto, 26, of Fairhaven, Massachusetts, pleaded guilty yesterday in U.S. District Court to distribution of fentanyl.
According to court records, on March 14, 2017, the defendant distributed fentanyl to a resident of St. George, Maine who died as a result. The following day, the defendant distributed fentanyl to a person working with law enforcement.
As a result of the plea, the defendant faces between 16 and 24 years in prison, a $2,000,000 fine and six years to life on supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.
This case was investigated by the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, the Knox County Sheriff’s Office and Rockland Police Department, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Ellsworth Man Pleads Guilty to Bank Robbery ChargesRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Timothy T. Myers, 27, of Ellsworth, Maine pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to bank robbery. The charges arose from the robbery in December 2018 of a two Bangor banks.
Court records reveal that on December 21, 2018, the defendant entered a TD Bank branch and handed a teller a note that read: “Give me the money or I shoot, no dye, $1,000.” The teller gave the defendant cash from the drawer and he absconded with it.
Five days later, the defendant robbed a KeyBank branch. He entered the bank, walked to the table near the entrance, and picked up a withdrawal slip on which he wrote: “Money now or I shoot, no dye,” and handed it to a teller. The defendant took money from the teller and fled.
The defendant faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each robbery. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.
The investigation was conducted by the Bangor and Ellsworth Police Departments, the Maine State Police Crime Laboratory, the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office, and the FBI.
Easton Man Sentenced to Ten Years for Child Pornography CrimesRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Brandon Hosford, 21, of Easton, Maine, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge Lance E. Walker to 10 years in prison and 10 years of supervised release for possessing, transporting, and receiving child pornography. He was also ordered to pay $1,000 in restitution. Hosford pleaded guilty on October 2, 2018.
According to court records, Hosford sent images of child pornography over the internet on two occasions in October 2017, and received child pornography over the internet in November 2017. He also was found in possession of child pornography in April 2017 and in January 2018. Some of the images Hosford possessed and transmitted depicted children under the age of 12.
The investigation was conducted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit, and the Presque Isle and Fort Kent Police Departments.
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. 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.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Augusta Man Sentenced to 1½ Years for Lying to a Federal Gun DealerRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced Jason Morgan, 24, of Augusta, Maine, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge Lance E. Walker to 1½ years in prison and three years of supervised release for making a false statement to a federal firearms licensee. Morgan pleaded guilty on January 17, 2019.
Court records reveal that on May 26, 2017, Morgan purchased a Smith & Wesson .380 semi-automatic pistol from a federal firearms licensee in Augusta. In connection with the purchase, Morgan completed a Firearms Transaction Record stating that he was the actual buyer. In fact, he purchased the firearm for another person from whom he had previously bought illegal drugs and who gave him the money for the purchase.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Maine State Police, with assistance provided by the U.S. Border Patrol. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together federal and state levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Justice Department 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.
Lewiston Man Sentenced to Almost Six Years for Crack Trafficking and Violation of Supervised Release TermsRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Ahmed Mohamed, 24, of Lewiston, Maine, was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court by Judge George Z. Singal to 46 months in prison and three years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute cocaine base, commonly known as “crack.” He was also sentenced to a consecutive two-year term of imprisonment for violating the terms of supervised release imposed on him in 2016 following a separate federal conviction for crack trafficking. He pleaded guilty to crack trafficking and violating the terms of his supervised release on January 24, 2019.
Court records reveal that on August 15, 2018, law enforcement officers arrested Mohamed near a drug treatment facility in Lewiston and seized fifty baggies of crack.
The investigation was conducted by the Lewiston Police Department and the Southern Maine Gang Task Force, which is comprised of agents and officers from the FBI; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Drug Enforcement Administration; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations; the Portland, South Portland, and Lewiston Police Departments; and the York County Sheriff’s Office.
Gardiner Man Sentenced to 2½ years for Illegal Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Robert Gay, 35, of Gardiner, Maine was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 2½ years in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court records, on June 2, 2018, the defendant was hired to perform plumbing work at a residence in Scarborough, Maine. While working in the basement, the defendant came across and later stole a rifle that belonged to the homeowner. A search of the defendant’s cell phone revealed text conversations reflecting that the defendant stole the rifle and sold it to another individual. The purchaser was identified and the rifle was recovered and returned to the homeowner. The defendant was prohibited from possessing the rifle because he had two 2018 felony theft convictions.
The case was investigated by the Scarborough and Gardiner Police Departments; the FBI; and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Portland Woman Pleads Guilty to Using a False Identification Document and Social Security NumberRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Elba Cruz, 46, of Portland, Maine, pled guilty today in U.S. District Court to using of a false identification document and Social Security number.
According to court records, Cruz provided a counterfeit lawful permanent resident card and Social Security card in support of an employment application to the Hilton Garden Inn, in Portland. Investigation revealed that the Social Security number and alien registration number were not assigned to her.
Cruz faces up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine on both charges. She will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.
The investigation was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, and the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General.
Hermon Woman Sentenced to Two Years for Heroin, Fentanyl and Crack ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Erica Oliveira, 29, of Hermon, Maine, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. to two years in prison and three years of supervised for conspiracy to distribute heroin, fentanyl and cocaine base, commonly known as “crack.” She pleaded guilty on October 15, 2018.
According to court records, between January 2016 and February 2017, Oliveira conspired with others to acquire heroin, fentanyl and crack in Waterbury, Connecticut and to distribute it in Penobscot County. The defendant allowed her Hermon residence to be used to distribute heroin and facilitated the drug dealing activities of others.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency. This case was investigated and prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s Strategy to Combat the Opioid Epidemic.
York Man Sentenced to Two Years for Making Interstate Threat and Identity TheftRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Austin Santoro, 23, of York, Maine, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge D. Brock Hornby to two years in prison and three years of supervised release for transmitting a threatening interstate communication and identity theft. The defendant pleaded guilty on December 17, 2018.
According to court documents, in January of 2018, the defendant sent an email to employees of the Portsmouth, New Hampshire Police Department at their departmental email addresses threatening to sexually assault them at gunpoint. The defendant used an email “spoofing” service to make it appear that the email had been sent by the police chief.
On the same day, the defendant sent an email to employees of York County Community College at their work addresses threatening to sexually assault them at gunpoint. The defendant used the same spoofing service to make it appear that the email had been sent by a college employee.
The investigation was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.
New York Man Sentenced to over 14 Years on Heroin and Crack Conspiracy ChargeRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Andre Fields a/k/a “Coop,” a/k/a “Pops,” a/k/a “Boss,” a/k/a “Unc,”, 56, of Bronx, New York, was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court by Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. to 170 months in prison and five years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute more than a kilogram of heroin and more than 280 grams of cocaine base, commonly known as “crack.” The defendant pled guilty on October 29, 2018.
According to court records, between January 2015 and December 2017, Fields conspired with others to distribute more than a kilogram of heroin and more than 280 grams of crack in Central Maine. Fields obtained the drugs from out-of-state sources. The defendant and others brought the drugs back to Maine where he and others, working at his direction, repackaged and distributed them from Central Maine residences and hotel rooms to area drug dealers and addicts for further distribution and use.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance provided by the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, the Kennebec County Sheriff’s Office, and the Augusta and Waterville Police Departments. This case was investigated and prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s Strategy to Combat the Opioid Epidemic.
Lewiston Man Sentenced for Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Keith Phillips, 58, of Lewiston, Maine, was sentenced in U.S. District Court on a charge of bank robbery. Senior United States District Judge D. Brock Hornby sentenced Phillips to 70 months in federal prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. The court also ruled that Phillips will be ordered to pay restitution to the victim bank. Phillips pleaded guilty to the charge on December 26, 2018.
According to court records, on June 6, 2018, Phillips entered Androscoggin Bank in Lewiston, approached a teller, passed a note that contained a demand for money and a threat of a gun, and absconded with $2,000.
The case was investigated by the Lewiston Police Department; the FBI; the Southern Maine Gang Task Force, which is comprised of agents and officers from the FBI; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and the Portland, South Portland, and Lewiston Police Departments; and the Central Maine Violent Crime Task Force.
Maryland Man Pleads Guilty to Access Device Fraud and Conspiracy to Commit Access Device FraudRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Bryan Boley, 33, of Takoma Park, Maryland, pled guilty yesterday in U.S. District Court to conspiracy to commit access device fraud, using or attempting to use a counterfeit access device, possession of 15 or more counterfeit or unauthorized access devices, and possession of device-making equipment.
According to court records, from at least July 31, 2018, Bryan Boley conspired with others to use counterfeit credit cards at Maine retail outlets. He bought the credit card numbers online. A search of Boley’s hotel room in January 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, as well as a credit card reader/writer, among other items. Boley was arrested after checking out of his hotel room in the early hours of January 23, 2019. He 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.
Boley faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 on the conspiracy charge, up to ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine on the counterfeit access device charges, and up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on the possession of device-making equipment charge. 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.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Secret Service, the Maine State Police and the Auburn, Brunswick, Cape Elizabeth, and Yarmouth Police Departments.
Portland Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Joseph Holland, 33, of Portland, Maine, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to possessing child pornography.
According to court records, in January of this year, Holland was on supervised release after completing his term of imprisonment for a prior federal conviction. 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.
Holland faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. He also faces a term of supervised release following his release from prison of no less than 5 years and up to life. He faces a separate term of imprisonment for violating the conditions of his supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.
The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services.
British Womenswear Retailer Agrees to Pay $610,000 to Settle False Claims Act Allegations Concerning Improper Avoidance of Customs DutiesRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced today that Selective Marketplace Ltd. (“Selective”), of Loughborough, England, has entered into a civil settlement agreement with the U.S. under which it will pay a total of $610,000 to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act (“FCA”). The FCA is the government’s primary civil remedy to redress false claims involving government funds.
The settlement resolves allegations that Selective improperly avoided U.S. customs duties owed on merchandise under its two brand names, Wrap London and Poetry, shipped from the United Kingdom to U.S. customers, including those in Maine. See United States ex rel. Vale v. Selective Marketplace Ltd. et al., Civil No. 2:17-cv-380-LEW (D. Me.). Generally, U.S. customers owed no customs duties on single shipments of merchandise into the U.S. worth less than $200. The complaint alleged that Selective improperly evaded customs duties that would have been paid by U.S. customers by breaking up single shipments worth more than those amounts into multiple shipments of lesser value in order to avoid the applicable duties.
The FCA action was originally filed by Kristin and Stephen Vale under the FCA’s whistleblower, or qui tam, provisions that allow private individuals who have knowledge of fraud committed against the government to file lawsuits on the government’s behalf. The FCA permits the government to recover up to three times the amount of damages incurred by the U.S., in addition to civil penalties for each violation. The government may also intervene and file its own lawsuit for damages and penalties, as it did in this case. If the government prevails in the action, the whistleblower, also known as the relator, may receive a share of the recovery. Here, the government will pay the relators, Kristin and Stephen Vale, a share of the settlement proceeds.
The government was represented by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Selective cooperated throughout the investigation.
U.S. Attorney Recognizes Police WeekRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank recognized the service and sacrifice of federal, state, local, and tribal police officers on the occasion of National Police Week, which is being observed from Sunday, May 12 to Saturday, May 18, 2019.
In October 1962, Congress enacted a joint resolution, which the President signed, declaring May 15th as National Peace Officers Memorial Day to honor law enforcement officers killed or disabled in the line of duty. The resolution also created National Police Week as an annual tribute to law enforcement service and sacrifice.
“During Police Week, our nation celebrates the contributions of police officers from around the country, recognizing their hard work, dedication, loyalty and commitment in keeping our communities safe,” said U.S. Attorney Frank. “I want to acknowledge the work performed by federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, who often face uncertain and dangerous situations without question and without expectation of thanks. We want them to know they have our unwavering support and appreciation.”
According to statistics reported to the FBI, 106 law enforcement officers were killed in line-of-duty incidents in 2018, including Somerset County Deputy Sheriff Corporal Eugene P. Cole in Maine.
Comprehensive data tables about these incidents and brief narratives describing the fatal attacks are included in the sections of Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted, 2018 https://ucr.fbi.gov/leoka/2018/ released this week by the FBI.
The names of all 106 fallen officers nationwide, including that of Corporal Cole, will be formally dedicated on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC, during the 31st Annual Candlelight Vigil on the evening of Monday, May 13, 2019. No tickets are required and everyone is welcome. For additional information please call 202-737-3400.
The Candlelight Vigil is one of many commemorative events taking place in the nation’s capital during National Police Week 2019.
For more information about other National Police Week events, please visit www.policeweek.org.
Ludlow Man Sentenced to 12 Months and a Day for the Illegal Purchase of FirearmsRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Richard R. Hemingway, 34, of Ludlow, Maine, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge Lance E. Walker to 12 months and a day in prison and two years of supervised release for providing false information during the purchase of two firearms. Hemingway pleaded guilty on August 21, 2018.
According to court records, on October 4, 2017, Hemingway purchased a Windham Weaponry ‘WW-15’ .300BLK caliber AR-15 style rifle and a Sig Sauer ‘MCX’ .300BLK caliber AR-15 style rifle from a federally licensed firearms dealer. In doing so, he completed a Firearms Transaction Record form in which he falsely reported that he was the actual purchaser of the firearms. In fact, Hemingway was buying the firearms for David Allen Polchies. On the same day the firearms were purchased, officers with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) arrested Polchies and Sharon Weeks as they attempted to smuggle the rifles, several high-capacity drum magazines, and 350 rounds of ammunition into Canada. Polchies and Weeks were prosecuted in Canada.
The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the CBSA. The case was prosecuted 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 proved 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.
Burnham Man Sentenced to 37 Months for Illegal Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced Matthew Johnson, 39, of Burnham, Maine, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge Lance E. Walker to 37 months in prison and three years of supervised release for being an unlawful user of heroin and bath salts in possession of a firearm. The defendant pleaded guilty on June 21, 2018.
Court records reveal on April 20, 2017, officers from the Westbrook and Scarborough Police Departments stopped the defendant’s vehicle which had reportedly fled the scene of an accident. A search of the vehicle revealed controlled substances, drug paraphernalia and a locked safe. Inside the locked safe, officers found a fully loaded .357 Magnum revolver, bath salts and other drugs. The defendant admitted he was an addict. The ensuing investigation revealed that the defendant had purchase the revolver in Bangor and was an unlawful user of heroin and bath salts.
In imposing the sentence, Judge Walker noted the “deadly and destructive” influence of the combination of illegal drug use and firearm possession within our society.
The investigation was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency as well as the Westbrook and Scarborough Police Departments.
DEA New England and Partners Collect over 44 Tons of Drugs During Take Back DayRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank joined the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in announcing that DEA New England and its partners collected 89,366 lbs. of drugs during National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on April 27, 2019. The following is a breakdown of collected weights for the six New England states:
Maine – 27,680 lbs.
Massachusetts – 28,117.5 lbs.
New Hampshire – 14,180 lbs.
Connecticut – 8,361.8 lbs.
Vermont – 6,562 lbs.
Rhode Island – 4,465 lbs.
Last October, during its 16th Take Back Day, the DEA New England collected 80,278 pounds, or 40 tons, of expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs at 613 collection sites throughout New England. In Maine, last October, 27,516 pounds of drugs were collected.
Since its inception in September 2010, Maine has collected 404,698 lbs. of drugs; the most, per capita, in the United States.
Maine and New York Residents Arrested and Charged with Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Robert McKenna, 48, of Indian Township, Maine; Renita Honea, 57, of Jonesport, Maine; Chandra Hanscom, 44, of Cutler, Maine; Barry McCarthy, 43, of Columbia, Maine; Cody Look, 30, of Cutler; William Smeal, 32, of Hancock, Maine; Ralph Sawtelle, 27, of Lubec, Maine; Vestin Drisko, 40, of Beals Island, Maine; Cinque Grasette, 42, of New York, New York; Mujahedeen Hasan, 28, of Bronx, New York; Miquel Angel Franco, 22, of Bronx; Milo Danell Germany, 21, of Bronx; Julian Lloyd, 24, of Bronx; and Jordy Collado, 18, of New York, New York were arrested yesterday and charged by criminal complaint in U.S. District Court with distribution of cocaine base, commonly known as “crack,” heroin, fentanyl or cocaine and/or maintaining a drug-involved premises. Kevin Leroy Barner, 53, of Bronx, was also arrested yesterday, having been charged by indictment on March 28 with possession with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of crack. Christopher Cruz, 30, of Bronx; and Christopher Martinez, 29, of Bronx, were charged today by criminal complaint in U.S. District Court with possession with intent to distribute cocaine base. Timothy Cates, 40, of Cutler was charged today by criminal complaint in U.S. District Court with maintaining a drug-involved premises.
McKenna and Hasan were charged with distributing crack. Honea and Drisko were charged with distributing crack and heroin and maintaining a drug-involved premises. Hanscom was charged with distributing heroin. Look, Collado, Cruz, and Martinez were charged with possession with intent to distribute crack. Smeal and Lloyd were charged with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. McCarthy, Sawtelle, and Cates were charged with maintaining a drug-involved premises. Grasette was charged with distributing crack and heroin. Franco and Germany were charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
According to the complaints and indictment, the charges arose from an investigation into the acquisition of crack, cocaine, heroin and fentanyl in New York City and its distribution in Washington and Hancock Counties, in Maine. The investigation resulted in the execution of seven search warrants yesterday that resulted in the seizure of several firearms, including, but not limited to, a sawed-off shotgun, and large quantities of crack and fentanyl.
If convicted, Barner faces between five and 40 years in prison and up to a $5,000,000 fine. The other defendants charged with drug trafficking face up to 20 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine. Defendants charged with maintaining a drug-involved premises face up to 20 years in prison and a $500,000 fine. The charges in the complaints and indictment are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The investigation is being conducted by the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, Maine State Police, FBI, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; Washington County Sheriff’s Office, and Hancock County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance provided by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations; U.S. Border Patrol; U.S. Secret Service; U.S. Marshals Service; and Maine Marine Patrol.
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.
Biddeford Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy and Theft of Firearms from a Licensed Firearms DealerRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Danny Rydle, 29, of Biddeford, Maine pled guilty today in U.S. District Court to conspiracy and theft of firearms from a federally licensed firearms dealer.
According to court records, on February 20, 2018, the defendant and another individual stole firearms from a federally licensed firearm dealer in Biddeford. The theft was discovered by the Biddeford Police Department, who responded to a burglar alarm and found a broken glass door at the building’s entrance. The responding officers used a police K9 to locate a price tag that had been attached to one of the stolen firearms. The price tag had Rydle’s blood on it.
Rydle faces up to five years for conspiracy and up to 10 years for theft, and a $250,000 fine. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.
The case was investigated by the Biddeford Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Law Enforcement Officers Join Massabesic High School Students for a Day of LearningRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced today that on May 1, 2019, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine, the York County Sheriff’s Office, the FBI, and York County District Attorney’s Office will present the TRUST (Teach mutual Respect and Understanding through SimulaTion) Program to about 50 Massabesic High School students at Massabesic High School, located at 88 West Road, in Waterboro, Maine.
“The TRUST Program arose out of the belief that young people and law enforcement officers can benefit from spending time together, discussing challenges and perspectives on law enforcement, and better understanding each other,” said U.S. Attorney Frank. “It is modeled on similar programs run by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices that have been successful in Alabama (Bridging the Gap) and Florida (Building Lasting Relationships).”
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 for the District of Maine, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me.
Saco Woman Pleads Guilty to Social Security Fraud and Theft of Public MoneyRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Kelly L. McCabe, 36, of Saco, Maine, pled guilty yesterday in U.S. District Court to social security fraud and theft of public money.
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 Social Security Administration (“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.
McCabe faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for social security fraud and up to ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine for theft of public money charge. She also faces 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.
The investigation was conducted by SSA’s Office of the Inspector General and the Maine Department of Health & Human Services’ Fraud Investigation and Recovery Unit.
Houlton Man Convicted of Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Larry O’Neal, 45, of Houlton, Maine, was convicted of possessing child pornography today, following a four-day jury trial.
Court records and trial evidence revealed that, in January 2018, O’Neal was found with images of child pornography in his computer in January 2018, when law enforcement executed a search warrant at his home. Agents began investigating O’Neal after his computer was observed on a peer-to-peer file sharing network as having files associated with child pornography.
O’Neal faces up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and 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.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of the Inspector General, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Office of Professional Responsibility, the Customs and Border Protection Office of Professional Responsibility, and the Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit. 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.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Vermont Man Convicted of Procuring Naturalization Contrary to LawRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Hussien Noor Hussien, 56, of Burlington, Vermont, was convicted today following a three-day jury trial in U.S. District Court of personage of another in a naturalization proceeding, procuring naturalization contrary to law, and making a false statement on a passport application.
Court records and trial evidence revealed that in 2004, Hussien entered the United States as a refugee under the name Abukar Hassan Abdule. He entered with the wife and children of the true Abukar Hassan Abdule. In 2011, he applied for U.S. citizenship under the same name. He affirmed on his citizenship application and during an in-person citizenship interview in South Portland, Maine, that his name was Abukar Hassan Abdule. He ultimately was naturalized under the same name. After becoming a U.S. citizen, he applied for a U.S. passport under the name Abukar Hassan Abdule. In 2013, he filed in Vermont state court to legally change his name in the U.S. from Abukar Hassan Abdule to Hussien Noor Hussien, the name he was given at birth.
Hussien faces a maximum of five years in prison on the count of personage of another in a naturalization proceeding, up to ten years in prison on the other two counts, and a fine of up to $250,000 on each count. In addition, by law, due to the conviction for procuring naturalization contrary to law, the Court must revoke Hussien’s citizenship. Hussien will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service; the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations; and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General.
Connecticut Man Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud, Social Security Number Fraud, and Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Mark Pignatello, 54, of Kent, Connecticut, pled guilty yesterday in U.S. District Court to bank fraud, social security number fraud, and aggravated identity theft.
According to court records, from October 22 through 24, 2018, Pignatello traveled across Maine and New Hampshire visiting branches of People’s United Bank at which he passed or attempted to pass counterfeit checks made out to others. He used the social security numbers and other personal information of these individuals to impersonate them and used counterfeit driver’s licenses bearing his image but their personal information. He was apprehended by the Newport police outside of the Newport, Maine branch of People’s United Bank, where his activity had been identified as fraudulent.
Pignatello faces up to 30 years imprisonment and a fine of up to $1,000,000 on the bank fraud charge, up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 on the social security number fraud charge, and a mandatory minimum sentence of two years in prison on the aggravated identity theft charge, as well as up to five years of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Secret Service and the Maine State Police.
Oakland Man Pleads Guilty to Pharmacy Robbery ChargeRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Michael E. Algiere, 32, of Oakland, Maine, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to interfering with commerce by robbery. Algiere was indicted in August 2018.
Court records reveal that on October 31, 2007, the defendant entered the Oakland Pharmacy in Oakland, Maine. He was wearing a black ski mask, a hooded sweatshirt, and camouflage gloves. He went to the pharmacy counter holding a knife and he demanded oxycodone from the pharmacist. The defendant absconded with several bottles of Roxicodone, Oxycontin, and Percocet. Investigators submitted several items of evidence to the Maine State Police Crime Laboratory (MSPCL) recovered at and around the scene of the robbery. Forensic analysts recovered the same male DNA profile from the ski mask and knife. That profile was loaded into the Combined DNA Index System (“CODIS”) in 2007 but did not yield a match. CODIS is a criminal justice database that contains DNA profiles of convicted offenders and arrestees (known profiles). Because participating forensic laboratories regularly add DNA profiles to CODIS, the MSPCL routinely compares unknown profiles from unsolved cases against the known profiles in CODIS. In February 2017, a CODIS comparison revealed that the DNA obtained from the ski mask and knife matched DNA collected from Michael E. Algiere. The DNA match was confirmed after federal investigators obtained a search warrant and collected samples of the defendant’s DNA.
The defendant faces up to 20 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.
The case was investigated by the Oakland Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the MSPCL.
Kittery Man Charged with Federal Interstate Domestic Violence CrimesRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Nelson Jean Dion, 52, of Kittery, was charged by criminal complaint in U.S. District Court with two counts of interstate travel to violate a protection order. Dion appeared before a United States Magistrate Judge in Portland Tuesday afternoon and was ordered detained pending a court hearing on April 30, 2019.
According to court documents, between April 19, 2016, and June 30, 2016, Dion traveled from Maine to New Hampshire, and then from New Hampshire to Maine, to have contact with a former live-in girlfriend in violation of a provision contained in a bail bond that had been issued by the York County Superior Court.
If convicted as charged, the defendant faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 on each charge. The charges contained in the criminal complaint are only accusations and the defendant remains innocent unless and until proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Kittery, Berwick, and Eliot, Maine Police Departments, the York County District Attorney’s Office, the Portsmouth, New Hampshire Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted as 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. Attorney General Jeff Sessions 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.
DEA and Partners Hold National Prescription Drug Take Back Day SaturdayRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank joined the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in announcing that DEA will once again conduct one of its most popular community programs: National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. On Saturday, April 27, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., the public can dispose of their expired, unused and unwanted prescription medications at over 600 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.
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 United States 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.
“DEA has touched a nerve in America with its recent Take Back events, as evidenced by the millions of pounds of pills collected during our previous 16 events,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle. “These events are only made possible through the dedicated work and commitment of our local, state and federal partners, and DEA thanks each and every one of them for their continuous efforts on behalf of the American people.”
“The DEA drug take back is an integral part of controlling the diversion of prescription drugs into the wrong hands and into our ecosystem,” said Halsey B. Frank, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maine. “Maine has been a national leader ever since the program was founded and I hope and expect that we will continue the leadership in 2019.”
Last October, during its 16th Take Back Day, the DEA New England Division participated in the drug take back day and, over the course of four hours, 80,277.68 pounds or 40 tons of expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs we’re collected at 613 collection sites throughout New England.
The following was the breakdown of collected weights for the six New England states:
CT 4,792.30 lbs.
MA 26,255.58 lbs.
ME 27,156.70 lbs.
NH 11,880 lbs.
RI 4,364 lbs.
VT 5,829 lbs.
TOTAL 80,277.68 lbs.
Caribou Man Sentenced to 3 years for Failing to Register in Maine as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Stephen G. Olivo, 59, of Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, and Caribou, Maine was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge Lance E. Walker to 3 years in prison and 5 years of supervised release for failing to register as a sex offender. Olivo pleaded guilty on November 6, 2018.
Court records reveal that on about October 2, 1990, the defendant was convicted of aggravated felonious sexual assault in Hillsborough County that required him to register as a sex offender for life. In late 2014 or early 2015, the defendant traveled from Georgia to Maine and lived and worked in Aroostook County but failed to inform the sex offender registry in New Hampshire that he had left New Hampshire. He also never registered in Maine, as required. He was arrested in September 2018.
The investigation was conducted by the United States Marshal’s Service.
Augusta Man Pleads Guilty to Firearms ChargeRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Ryan D. Merrill, 39, of Augusta, Maine, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to possessing an unregistered silencer. Merrill was indicted in October 2018.
According to court records, on July 17, 2018, officers with the Augusta, Maine police department (APD) responded to a complaint of gunshots in a residential area. Merrill had been firing a .22 caliber rifle at a fox and at small propane tanks behind his home. Officers discovered that Merrill had modified an automotive oil filter and attached it to the muzzle of the rifle using a special adapter in order to suppress the sound of rounds he fired. Merrill had not registered the silencer in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record and he knew that the possession of the silencer was prohibited by federal law.
The case was investigated by Augusta Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted 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 proved 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.
New York Man Pleads Guilty to Heroin and Crack TraffickingRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Demario Boler, a/k/a “White Mike,” a/k/a “Mike,” 23, of Buffalo, New York, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to conspiring to distribute heroin and cocaine base, commonly known as “crack,” and distributing crack.
According to court records, between November 2016 and September 2017, Boler conspired with others from Rochester, New York and Central Maine to distribute heroin and crack. The drugs were acquired in Rochester and Boler and others distributed the drugs in Central Maine. On May 11, 2017, Boler sold crack to an individual working with law enforcement.
The defendant faces up to 20 years in prison, between three years and life on supervised release, and a $1,000,000 fine. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; and the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency and is being prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s program to combat the opioid epidemic.
New York Man Pleads Guilty to Credit Card FraudRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Peter Garces, 22, of the Bronx, New York, pled guilty today in U.S. District Court to credit card fraud. The charge arises from an investigation into fraud committed at three Maine Home Depot stores.
According to court records, on September 27, 2018, the defendant provided false identity information to three Home Depot stores located in Biddeford, South Portland and Windham to obtain credit cards. The defendant used his fraudulently obtained credit cards to purchase over $15,500 worth of items from those stores. The defendant was in the process of attempting to fraudulently obtain a credit card from a Home Depot store in Auburn when he was arrested.
The defendant 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.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Secret Service, in conjunction with the Biddeford, South Portland, Windham and Auburn Police Departments.
Burlington Woman Indicted for Mailing a Threatening CommunicationRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Suzanne Muscara, 37, of Burlington, Maine, was indicted yesterday for mailing a threatening communication to Senator Susan Collins.
According to court records, the charge arose from an investigation into a suspicious letter processed by the U.S. Postal Service mail sorting facility in Hampden, Maine, in October 2018. The letter was leaking a fine white powder and it contained a threat. The white powder was tested and found not to contain toxic substances.
If convicted, the defendant faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The investigation is being conducted by the FBI, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Office of Maine State Fire Marshal, and the Maine State Police.
An indictment is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt.
North Anson Man Sentenced to 27 Months for Violating Supervised Release ConditionsRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Gregory Violette, 64, was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court by Judge George Z. Singal to 27 months in prison for violating the terms of his supervised release. The defendant pleaded guilty to the violations yesterday.
According to court records, following his federal fraud and money laundering convictions in 2002, the defendant was ordered to pay over $400,000 in restitution and placed on supervised release that prohibited him from, among other things, obtaining new credit without his probation officer’s permission or violating federal law, and that required him to, among other things, work in a lawful occupation and report any financial gains and apply them to restitution. In fact, the defendant, sought a $150,000 mortgage without permission, failed to report thousands of dollars of assets and a $10,000 lawsuit settlement and violated state securities laws.
At sentencing, Judge Singal described the defendant’s “long series of deliberate falsehoods” and “catch me if you can” fraud schemes as “the most egregious case of deliberate violation of court orders” and “callousness to the rules of our society” that he had encountered in almost 20 years as a federal judge.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Probation Office and the Office of Securities, Maine Department of Professional and Financial Regulation.
Lewiston Man Sentenced to Eight Years for Unlawful Possession of a HandgunRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Tony Leonard, a/k/a “Tom Cat,” 49, of Lewiston, Maine, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge George Z. Singal to eight years in prison and three years of supervised release for being a felon in possession of a firearm. The defendant pled guilty on November 1, 2018.
According to court records, on August 17, 2017, members of the Lewiston Police Department executed a narcotics-related search warrant at Leonard’s Lewiston residence and seized a Glock .40 caliber handgun and a loaded magazine. Leonard was prohibited from possessing the firearm because of prior felony convictions for aggravated forgery, aggravated assault and drug trafficking.
The case was investigated by the Lewiston Police Department, with assistance provided by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and prosecuted 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.
Dexter Man Sentenced to Two Years on Firearms ChargeRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that David O. Miles, Jr., 28, of Dexter, Maine, was sentenced today by Judge Nancy Torresen to two years in prison and three years of supervised release for providing false information during the purchase of firearms. Miles pleaded guilty on August 31, 2018.
According to court records, on March 2, 2015, Miles purchased two SCCY 9 millimeter pistols from a federally licensed firearms dealer. In connection with the purchase, Miles completed a Firearms Transaction Record form in which he falsely reported that he was the actual purchaser of the firearms. In fact, Miles was buying the firearms for another individual who was prohibited from purchasing them.
The case was investigated by the Massachusetts State Police and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and prosecuted 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.
Department of Justice Releases Reports Focused on Improving Safety and Wellness of the Nation’s 800,000 Law Enforcement OfficersRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank joined the Department of Justice in announcing today’s release of two complementary reports that focus on the mental health and safety of the nation’s federal, state, local and tribal police officers. The reports, Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act: Report to Congress and Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Programs: Eleven Case Studies, were published by the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) as required by the Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act (LEMHWA) of 2017.
The LEMHWA passed both chambers unanimously and without amendment and was signed by the President shortly thereafter. These actions show that its purpose and intended effects are uncontroversial among policymakers – law enforcement agencies need and deserve support in their ongoing efforts to protect the mental health and well-being of their employees. Congress took the important step in improving the delivery of and access to mental health and wellness services that will help our nation’s more than 800,000 federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement officers.
"Serving as a law enforcement officer requires courage, strength, and dedication," Attorney General William P. Barr said. "The demands of this work, day in and day out, can take a toll on the health and well-being of our officers, but the Department of Justice is committed to doing our part to help. I want to thank the men and women of our COPS office for their hard work to support our officers every day, and specifically for these thoughtful and insightful reports, which detail both the challenges facing our officers and some specific ways we can give them the support that they deserve."
"A damaging national narrative has emerged in which law enforcement officers – whether federal, state, local, or tribal – are seen not as protectors of communities but as oppressors," said COPS Office Director Phil Keith. “In this environment, where an inherently stressful job is made more so by a constant undercurrent of distrust and negative public opinion, the risks to officer wellness are exacerbated. This report is an important measure and reflection in our ongoing commitment to protect those who protect us. "
“Law enforcement is a stressful business,” said U.S. Attorney Frank. “We respect and admire our law enforcement partners. We encourage them to remember to keep in mind their own well-being, and we support officer wellness programs, in particular.”
Under the Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act, the COPS Office was required to submit reports to Congress that addressed:
(1) Recommendations to Congress on effectiveness of crisis lines for law enforcement officers, efficacy of annual mental health checks for law enforcement officers, expansion of peer mentoring programs, and ensuring privacy considerations for these types of programs;
(2) Mental health practices and services in the U.S. Departments of Defense (DoD) and Veterans Affairs (VA) that could be adopted by federal, state, local, or tribal law enforcement agencies; and
(3) Case studies of programs designed primarily to address officer psychological health and well-being.
The first report, Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act: Report to Congress, includes 22 recommendations to Congress ranging from supporting programs to embed mental health professionals in law enforcement agencies to supporting the development of model policies and implementation guidance for law enforcement agencies to make substantial efforts to reduce suicide.
The case studies report, Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Programs: Eleven Case Studies, is designed to provide an overview of multiple successful and promising law enforcement mental health and wellness strategies with the joint aims of informing Congress, state and local government officials, and the law enforcement field. The report includes 11 case studies from a diverse group of sites across the United States.
The Department of Justice is pleased to respond to the LEMHWA as officer safety, health, and wellness is a longstanding priority of the agency. The reports released today address some of the most pressing issues currently facing our law enforcement community.
The COPS Office has a near 25-year history of supporting the efforts of state, local and tribal law enforcement, including the management of the National Blue Alert Network. The agency awards grants to hire community policing officers, develop and test innovative policing strategies, and provide training and technical assistance to community members, local government leaders, and all levels of law enforcement. Since 1994, the COPS Office has invested more than $14 billion to help advance community policing.
Rockport Man is Sentenced to Four Months for Health Care Fraud and EmbezzlementRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Michael A. Morrison, 42, of Rockland, Maine, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge Nancy Torresen to four months in prison and three years of supervised release, including four months of home confinement, for health care fraud and embezzlement from a health care benefit program. He was also ordered to pay about $206,000 in restitution. Morrison pleaded guilty to the charges on December 11, 2018.
According to court documents, between 2005 and 2016, the defendant was the manager of the Trade Winds Health, Swim and Tan Club in Rockland which also operated a physical therapy practice known as Coastal Physical Therapy. From 2014 through 2016, the defendant billed about $175,000 in false claims for reimbursement to Medicare, MaineCare, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and a Veterans Administration health care program. Some claims were false because the defendant exaggerated the length of time therapists spent with patients. He also made claims for appointments that were cancelled, for services that he provided even though he was not properly licensed, and using the names of therapists who were not working on the dates claimed.
Court documents also show that the defendant embezzled about $31,000 from the Health Club by using a Health Club credit card to pay for personal Amazon.com purchases and by stealing cash that he failed to deposit into the Health Club’s bank account.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General; the Maine Attorney General’s Office, Healthcare Crimes Unit; the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General; and the Rockland Police Department.
Justice Department Awards $9.4 Million to Support Native American Crime Victims in Eight StatesRead the Press Release
Washington -- United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank joined the Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP) in announcing the award of $9.4 million to support crime victims in Native American communities in eight states: Alaska, California, Maine, Michigan, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma and Washington. The group of 16 awards is the fourth in a series of grants being made by the Department’s Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) to American Indian and Alaska Native communities. OVC has now awarded more than $26 million of nearly $100 million to support tribal victim service programs.
The Pleasant Point Passamaquoddy Tribe (Maine) received $328,905 to expand existing services for victims of intimate partner violence, sexual assault, dating violence, sex trafficking and stalking, as well as for elders experiencing abuse. Funding will support staff training, transportation for victims in remote areas and a contracted attorney to provide legal counsel in civil matters to elder abuse victims.
The awards—46 in total so far—will fund critical crime victim services, such as counseling, transitional housing, emergency services and transportation. The grants are supported by the Crime Victims Fund, a repository of federal criminal fines, fees and special assessments. The fund includes zero tax dollars.
“American Indian and Alaska Native communities face extensive public safety challenges, but through creative approaches that combine traditional methods with innovative solutions, they are demonstrating their determination to meet the needs of victims in their communities,” said OJP’s Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Matt M. Dummermuth. “These grants, part of historic levels of funding awarded by the Department of Justice to American Indian and Alaska Native communities, will provide significant resources to bring critical services to those who suffer the effects of crime and violence.”
According to OJP’s Bureau of Justice Statistics, American Indians and Alaska Natives experience violent crime at rates far greater than the general population.
“We are hopeful that this grant will help the Pleasant Point Passamaquoddy Tribe address some of the challenges that they face in the areas of domestic violence, sexual assault and trafficking, and elder abuse, all of which are national and local priorities for the Department and our office,” said U.S. Attorney Frank.
Nearly 170 tribes are expected to receive funding this spring to help their communities support crime victims over the next three years.
“American Indian and Alaska Native crime victims continue to face challenges in accessing vital services and resources needed to help survivors address their trauma and navigate a complex system,” said OVC Director Darlene Hutchinson. “The Justice Department has made it a priority to partner with tribes to help victims and their families rebuild their lives in the aftermath of violence.”
OJP, directed by Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Dummermuth, provides federal leadership, grants and 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.
Justice Department Observes National Crime Victims’ Rights Week with Events Throughout the CountryRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank joined the Department of Justice’s observance of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, April 7-13, 2019.
“Victims of crime deserve justice. This Department works every day to help them recover and to find, prosecute, and convict those who have done them harm,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “During this National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, we pause to remember the millions of Americans who have been victims of crime and we thank public servants who have served them in especially heroic ways. This week the men and women of the Department recommit ourselves once again to ensuring that crime victims continue to have a voice in our legal system, to securing justice for them, and to preventing other Americans from suffering what they have endured."
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine always has in mind the interests of the victims in its cases,” said U.S. Attorney Frank. “We work to keep victims informed of developments in their cases, to give them an opportunity to be heard, to vindicate their rights, to obtain restitution for them, to ensure that they are treated with dignity and respect, and to bring them some relief from the injustice that they have suffered. In recent months, victims have addressed the court during sentencings in cases of child pornography, bank robbery, and drug distribution resulting in death.”
Each year in April, the Department of Justice and United States Attorneys’ offices observe National Crime Victims’ Rights Week nationwide by taking time to honor victims of crime and those who advocate on their behalf. In addition, the Justice Department and U.S. Attorneys’ offices organize events to honor the victims and advocates, as well as bring awareness to services available to victims of crime. This year’s observance takes place April 7-13, with the theme: Honoring Our Past. Creating Hope for the Future.
The U.S. Department of Justice will host the Office for Victims of Crime’s annual National Crime Victims’ Service Awards Ceremony in Washington, D.C. on April 12, 2019, to honor outstanding individuals and programs that serve victims of crime.
The Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime, within the Office of Justice Programs, leads communities across the country in observing National Crime Victims’ Rights Week each year. President Ronald Reagan proclaimed the first National Crime Victims’ Rights Week in 1981 to bring greater sensitivity to the needs and rights of victims of crime.
The Office of Justice Programs provides innovative leadership to federal, state, local, and tribal justice systems, by disseminating state-of-the art knowledge and practices across America, and providing grants for the implementation of these crime-fighting strategies. Because most of the responsibility for crime control and prevention falls to law enforcement officers in states, cities, and neighborhoods, the federal government can be effective in these areas only to the extent that it can enter into partnerships with these officers. More information about the Office of Justice Programs and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov. More information about Crime Victim’s Rights Week can be found at https://ovc.ncjrs.gov/ncvrw/. You may also contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine’s Victim Witness Program at (207) 780-3257.