District of Maine
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Bangor Man Sentenced to Eight Years for Conspiracy to Distribute Heroin, Crack and OxycodoneRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Syriane Baldwin, a/k/a “Del”, 31, of Bangor was sentenced in U.S. District Court by Chief Judge Nancy Torresen to eight years in prison and three years of supervised release for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and to distribute heroin, cocaine base, commonly known as “crack,” and oxycodone. He pled guilty to the charge on October 25, 2017.
According to court records, between January 2013 and September 2015, Baldwin conspired with others to obtain heroin, crack and oxycodone in New York City and to distribute it in the Bangor area and elsewhere. This case was related to the prosecution of Mario Lee, a/k/a “Moe,” who was sentenced on May 5, 2017 to 218 months in prison for his role in the conspiracy.
The case was investigated by the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, and prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s Strategy to Combat the Opioid Epidemic.
York Man Sentenced to One Month for Making False Statements to a Federal AgentRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Mark Elkhorn, 58, of York, Maine was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge Jon D. Levy to one month in prison and three years of supervised release for making false statements to a federal agent. Elkhorn pleaded guilty to the offense on January 18, 2018.
According to court records, in October 2015, a witness provided a tip to law enforcement that Elkhorn was illegally trapping animals in Petit Manan National Wildlife Refuge. An investigation confirmed the tip and uncovered additional wrongdoing. As a result, Elkhorn was convicted of state and federal charges. In December 2016, Elkhorn sent a threatening text message from his cellular telephone to the witness. In January 2017, Elkhorn lied to a federal agent when he denied sending the threatening text message to the witness.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the FBI, and the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife.
Lewiston Resident Arrested in New York and Charged with Crack TraffickingRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Everton Jones, 22, currently residing in Lewiston, was arrested in New York and charged today by criminal complaint in U.S. District Court with distribution of cocaine base, commonly known as “crack.”
According to the complaint, the charge arose from an investigation into crack trafficking in Lewiston.
If convicted, the defendant faces up to 20 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine.
The investigation is being conducted by 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.
A criminal complaint is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
Florida Man Sentenced to 32 Months for Credit Card Fraud and Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Jose Castillo Febles, 31, of Doral, Florida, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Chief Judge Nancy Torresen to 32 months in prison and three years of supervised release for conspiracy to commit access device fraud and aggravated identity theft. He was also ordered to pay over $25,000 in restitution. He pleaded guilty on August 25, 2017.
Court records show that between about November 2015 and June 2016, the defendant and others used stolen credit and debit card numbers to purchase merchandise. In May 2016, as part of the conspiracy, the defendant and others traveled to Maine. On May 29, 2016, the defendant purchased over $500 worth of merchandise at a Portland Walgreens using a stolen card number belonging to a victim from Auburn.
On June 15, 2016, after two co-conspirators, Yaisder Herrera Gargallo and Meylisi Rueda, purchased merchandise at a Portland Walgreens using a stolen card number, store personnel notified the police and provided a license plate number. On June 18, 2016, a Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office deputy stopped a vehicle matching the description provided by Walgreens personnel. The defendant and two of his co-conspirators were in the vehicle. The stop led to their arrest and the discovery of merchandise, numerous fraudulent credit cards and a laptop computer. The laptop computer was later found to contain credit card numbers and related data.
Yaisder Herrera Gargallo was sentenced to 40 months in prison and three years of supervised release on November 14, 2017. Another co-defendant, Juan Carlos Febles, was sentenced to 34 months in prison and three years of supervised release on January 3, 2018. Meylisi Rueda has pleaded guilty and awaits sentencing.
The case was investigated by the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office, the Portland Police Department and the U.S. Secret Service.
Etna Man Sentenced to One Year and a Day for Marijuana ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that James Mansfield, 33, of Etna, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge Jon D. Levy to one year and a day in prison and three years of supervised release for conspiring to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute marijuana. Mansfield pleaded guilty on February 15, 2018.
According to court records, during a period between October 2010 and August 2016, the defendant conspired with others to illegally manufacture and distribute marijuana. The defendant grew marijuana at a large, sophisticated indoor growing facility in Frankfort, Maine which he was told was an illegal medical marijuana grow. In May 2016, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at the facility and seized about 400 marijuana plants, 295 marijuana root balls, and paraphernalia used to manufacture and process marijuana. According to the search warrant affidavit, the defendant and his co-conspirators were not registered as medical marijuana caregivers with the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), and the location of the facility was not reported to DHHS.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
Dexter Man Pleads Guilty to Marijuana ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Terrence Sawtelle, a/k/a “Terry,” 49, of Dexter, Maine pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to conspiring to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute marijuana.
According to court records, during a period of time between October 2010 and August 2016, the defendant conspired with others to illegally manufacture and distribute marijuana at a facility in Frankfort, Maine and to distribute it at the Owl’s Club, in Bangor in violation of federal law, and under the cover of, but in violation of, Maine’s Medical Marijuana program.
In May 2016, agents searched the Frankfort facility and seized marijuana in various stages of harvest and cultivation, together with paraphernalia and items used to manufacture and process marijuana. In August 2016, agents searched property in downtown Bangor, including the Owl’s Club, and seized processed marijuana. At the time of the searches, the location of the Frankfort facility was not reported to DHHS as required.
The defendant faces up to 20 years in prison, between three years and life of supervised release, and a $1,000,000 fine. The defendant 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. Drug Enforcement Administration.
Rockland Man Charged with Health Care Fraud and EmbezzlementRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Michael A. Morrison, 41, of Rockland, Maine, was charged by criminal complaint in U.S. District Court with health care fraud and embezzlement from a health care benefit program arising out of his employment at the Trade Winds Health, Swim and Tan Club (“Trade Winds”) in Rockland.
According to court documents, from 2005 until July 2016, Morrison was the Executive Director of the health club at Trade Winds, which included a physical therapy business known as Coastal Physical Therapy. Between 2014 and 2016, Morrison allegedly submitted over $177,000 worth of fraudulent claims to Medicare, MaineCare, the Veterans Administration Fee Basis health care program, and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield by inflating the length of time procedures lasted, and by submitting claims for services not rendered or for services he rendered even though he was not a licensed Physical Therapist (PT) or a PT Assistant.
The complaint also alleged that from 2011 to 2016, Morrison embezzled over $70,000 from the health club by making unauthorized purchases for himself and his family using a business credit card and by stealing and cash from the business.
The defendant faces up to ten years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 on each count.
This case originated from a referral from the Rockland Police Department and the Maine Attorney General’s Healthcare Crimes Unit (“MeHCU”) and was investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”), Office of Investigations, Office of Inspector General, with assistance from the MeHCU, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General.
New York Man Charged with Illegal Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Timothy Ortiz, a/k/a “Tyson,” 25, of New York, was charged by criminal complaint in U.S. District Court with possession of a firearm by a felon.
According to court documents, on September 26, 2016, Ortiz was involved in an argument which led to his fatal shooting of Jonathan Methot using a silver Ruger, new model Blackhawk, .357 revolver at a duplex apartment building in Biddeford. Ortiz was prohibited from possessing the firearm as the result of 2016 Maine felony convictions for aggravated sex trafficking and heroin distribution.
Ortiz faces up to ten years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 on the charge. His initial appearance is scheduled for 2:30 today in U.S. District Court.
This case was investigated by the Biddeford Police Department; the Maine State Police; the Maine Attorney General’s Office; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations; the FBI; and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives 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.
A criminal complaint is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
Lewiston Residents Arrested and Charged with Crack TraffickingRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Sylas Way, 44, Elijah Blake, 26, Keon Baptiste-Harris, 35, Jamie Perry, 46, and Davontae Perrybrooks, 26, all currently residing in Lewiston, were arrested and charged today by criminal complaint in U.S. District Court with distribution of cocaine base, commonly known as “crack.”
According to the complaints, the charges arose from an investigation into crack trafficking in Lewiston.
If convicted, the defendants face up to 20 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine.
Baptise-Harris made an initial appearance in U.S. District Court today at 10:30 a.m. The other defendants are expected to make initial appearances in U.S. District Court later today starting at 2:00 p.m.
The investigation is being conducted by 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 Drug Enforcement Agency; the Maine State Police; and the Lewiston Police Department.
A criminal complaint is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
Portland Man Sentenced to Seven Years for Crack TraffickingRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Tem Tom, 24, of Portland, Maine, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge D. Brock Hornby to seven years in prison and eight years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute cocaine base, commonly known as “crack.” He pleaded guilty on November 15, 2017.
Court records reveal that on February 2, 2017, law enforcement agents conducting surveillance in Portland approached a vehicle in which Tom was a passenger following a suspected drug transaction and seized more than an ounce of crack and $3,580 from Tom.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from the Portland Police Department.
Westbrook Man Charged with Interfering with Commerce by RobberyRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Travis Jonathon Card, 38, of Westbrook, Maine, was charged today by criminal complaint in U.S. District Court with interference with commerce by robbery.
According to the complaint, the charge arises from an investigation into eleven armed robberies in the greater Portland area in March and April, 2018. One of these robberies occurred at a Gulf Mart, in Westbrook, on April 6, 2018. On that date, Card entered the store, approached the clerk, brandished what appeared to be a black firearm, and directed the clerk to open the register and give him money. He absconded with over $500.
If convicted, Card faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The defendant is currently being held in state custody on related charges. His initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Portland has not yet been scheduled.
The ongoing investigation is being conducted by the FBI, in conjunction with the Portland, Westbrook, Falmouth, Cumberland, South Portland, and Old Orchard Beach Police Departments.
A criminal complaint is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
Massachusetts Man Sentenced to 80 Months for Fentanyl TraffickingRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Rafael Buli, 24, of Lawrence, Massachusetts, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge Jon D. Levy to 80 months in prison and three years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, fentanyl, and aiding and abetting the possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. The sentence is to be run consecutively to a three year sentence that Buli is currently serving in Massachusetts for assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. Buli pled guilty on February 2, 2018.
Court records reveal that in 2016, Buli conspired with Wender Santos, a/k/a “Carlos,” and others to distribute fentanyl in the Lawrence area. Maine drug customers contacted Santos who directed Buli to meet with them to consummate the drug transactions. On September 1, 2016, federal and state agents stopped a Maine customer after Buli sold about 400 grams of fentanyl to the customer. During the conspiracy, Buli was being electronically monitored (“EM”) by the Massachusetts Department of Probation, and the EM bracelet placed him at several controlled transactions conducted by federal agents. Santos pled guilty on April 3, 2018 to the same charges and awaits sentencing.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Maine State Police and prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s Strategy to Combat the Opioid Epidemic.
Massachusetts Man Pleads Guilty to Credit Card Fraud ChargesRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Sean Trim, 33, of Stoughton, Massachusetts, pleaded guilty yesterday in U.S. District Court to conspiracy to commit credit card fraud, use of a counterfeit credit card, and possession of fifteen or more counterfeit credit cards.
Court records reveal that between November 2016 and February 2017, Trim conspired with Tishon Singh to commit credit card fraud. On January 6, 2017, officers from the Windham Police Department conducted a traffic stop of a car occupied by Trim and Singh. Inside the car, the officers found a black toiletry bag containing over 160 credit cards, many of which were counterfeit. Subsequent investigation revealed that both men had used counterfeit credit cards to make purchases at a Hannaford Store in North Windham, Maine. On February 16, 2017, law enforcement executed a search warrant at a residence in Stoughton, Massachusetts, that was occupied by Trim and Singh. The police ultimately seized from the residence over 500 counterfeit credit cards, materials used for manufacturing counterfeit credit cards, nearly $7,000 in cash, and laptop computers and a thumb drive that contained credit card data.
Trim faces up to five years on the conspiracy count, and up to 10 years on each of the remaining counts. He also faces a fine of up to $250,000 on each count. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office. Singh pleaded guilty on May 11, 2018 to using of a counterfeit credit card and possession of fifteen or more counterfeit credit cards and awaits sentencing.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service, the Windham and Biddeford Police Departments, and the Stoughton, Massachusetts Police Department.
Mexican Man Pleads Guilty to Illegally Entering the U.S. After RemovalRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Fausto Rivera-Rivera, 37, a citizen of Mexico, pled guilty today in U.S. District Court to illegally entering the United States after being removed or deported.
According to court records, Rivera-Rivera unlawfully entered the United States, was ordered removed to Mexico in 2013, and left. He did not apply for permission to reenter the United States. On April 27, 2018, he was arrested in Clinton, Maine, after a Clinton Police officer stopped a vehicle in which he was a passenger. He admitted to U.S. Border Patrol that he reentered the United States in Arizona in 2015 without being inspected and without legal authority.
Rivera-Rivera faces up to two 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. Upon completion of any sentenced imposed, he faces deportation to Mexico.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Border Patrol and the Clinton Police Department.
Caribou Man Sentenced to Five Years for Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Ryan T. Card, 22, of Caribou, Maine, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Chief Judge Nancy Torresen to five years in prison and 20 years of supervised release for possessing child pornography. Card pleaded guilty on February 27, 2018.
According to court records, between about November 2016 and April 2017, Card possessed images of child pornography on his cell phone. At least one of the images, which he had sought out and downloaded from on-line storage accounts on the internet, depicted a child under the age of 12.
The investigation was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Caribou Police Department, 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. 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.
Portland Man Sentenced to Six Years for Cocaine TraffickingRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Hadelyn Richardson, 26, of Portland, Maine, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge Jon D. Levy to six years in prison and four years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute cocaine. He was also fined $10,000. Upon release from prison, he faces deportation to the Dominican Republic. He pleaded guilty on January 30, 2018.
Court records reveal that on June 21, 2017, law enforcement agents intercepted a package sent from Puerto Rico to the defendant’s residence containing about four kilograms of cocaine. During the ensuing search of his residence, agents seized 3.5 kilograms of cocaine and a firearm.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service with assistance from the Portland Police Department. The prosecution is a result of the ongoing efforts by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), 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.
Hawaii Man Sentenced to Six Months for Wire FraudRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Jonathan F. Cowles, 47, of Honolulu, Hawaii, and formerly of Rowley, Massachusetts, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge Jon D. Levy to six months in prison and three years of supervised release for wire fraud. Cowles was also ordered to pay $359,784.90 in restitution. He pled guilty on January 22, 2018.
According to court records and evidence, between March and June 2014, the defendant used interstate wires to skim about $25,000 in commissions to which he was not entitled from his employer, Maine Coast Shellfish, LLC (Maine Coast), a lobster wholesaler located in York, Maine. As part of his fraudulent scheme, he also caused Maine Coast to ship about 50,000 lbs. of lobster worth $359,784.90 to a customer in China whose true identity he concealed and for which Maine Coast was not paid.
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the York Police Department.
Westbrook Men Sentenced for SNAP and WIC Trafficking Conspiracy, Money Laundering and Theft of Government FundsRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Ali Ratib Daham, 41, of Westbrook, Maine, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge D. Brock Hornby to three years in prison and three years of supervised release for SNAP and WIC trafficking conspiracy, money laundering and theft of federal MaineCare funds. He was also ordered to pay $1,446,338 in restitution. He pleaded guilty on November 28, 2017. Abdulkareem Daham, 22, of Westbrook was sentenced to two years in prison and three years of supervised release for conspiracy to defraud and to commit offenses against the United States. He was also ordered to pay $954,979 in restitution. He was found guilty on January 11, 2018 following a three-day jury trial. The charges arose out of the defendants’ operation of Ahram Halal Market on Forest Avenue in Portland. Ali Ratib Daham was the owner and operator of the market; Abdulkareem was an employee.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (“SNAP”) is a federal government program, formerly known as the Food Stamp Program, designed to raise the level of nutrition among low-income households. The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (“WIC”) is a federal program that provides supplemental food, health care referrals and nutrition for certain low-income women, and to infants and children up to age five who were found to be nutritionally at risk. Ahram became a SNAP retailer in 2011 and a WIC retailer in 2012.
According to court documents and trial evidence, the defendants conspired with each other to defraud the United States and traffic in SNAP and WIC benefits by allowing customers to exchange SNAP benefits and WIC checks for cash at a discounted rate and allowing SNAP benefits to be used to purchase ineligible goods or services or illegally pay off credit accounts at the market. Ali Ratib Daham also laundered proceeds of SNAP trafficking through the purchase and improvement of residential and commercial real estate, and stole about $39,000 in SNAP and MaineCare benefits by failing to report or update changes to his income and assets with the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (“MDHHS”).
Judge Hornby stated that the sentences in these cases needed to promote respect for the law and have a deterrence effect on others. He told Ali Daham that his criminal conduct caused distrust of government welfare programs and may lead to prejudice against welfare recipients and immigrants.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General; the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation; and the MDHHS, Fraud Investigation and Recovery Unit.
Holden Man Pleads Guilty to Marijuana Conspiracy and StructuringRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Christopher Ruhlin, 49, of Holden, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to conspiring to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute marijuana and to structuring cash transactions to evade federal cash transaction reporting requirements.
According to court records, between October 2010 and August 2016, the defendant conspired with others to illegally grow marijuana at a facility in Frankfort, Maine and to distribute it at the Owl’s Club, in Bangor in violation of federal law, and under the cover of, but in violation of, Maine’s Medical Marijuana program. The defendant and others operated the Frankfort facility until 2013. Thereafter, others operated it. In May 2016, agents searched the Frankfort facility and seized marijuana in various stages of harvest and cultivation, together with paraphernalia and items used to manufacture and process marijuana. In August 2016, agents searched property owned by the defendant in downtown Bangor, including the Owl’s Club, and seized processed marijuana. At the time of the searches, the defendant was not registered as a medical marijuana caregiver with the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), and the location of the Frankfort facility was not reported to DHHS as required.
Under federal law, financial institutions that receive more than $10,000 in cash from a customer are required to report the transaction to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Structuring occurs when a customer breaks up cash transactions into multiple increments of less than $10,000, to avoid these cash transaction reporting requirements. On May 28, 2013, the defendant structured cash deposits into his bank account in order to cause the bank not to file a currency transaction report.
The defendant faces up to 20 years in prison, between three years and life of supervised release, and a $1,000,000 fine for the drug conspiracy. He faces up to five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release for structuring. In a plea agreement, the defendant agreed to forfeit $115,000. The defendant 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. Drug Enforcement Administration.
Gardiner Man Pleads Guilty to Producing and Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Richard Bailey, 67, of Gardiner, Maine, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to production and possession of child pornography.
According to court records, law enforcement agents received information that the defendant was uploading images of child pornography to various websites. Based on this information, they obtained a search warrant for the defendant’s home in Gardiner. During the execution of the search warrant, the defendant admitted that agents would find multiple images of child pornography involving underage boys on his electronic devices. The investigation revealed that the defendant produced child pornography by encouraging adults in the Philippines during online chats to engage in sexual activity with children that was videotaped, photographed, and disseminated in real time over the internet. A forensic examination of the defendant’s electronic devices revealed multiple images and videos of child pornography including images obtained from the Philippine sex shows.
The defendant faces between 15 and 30 years in prison on the production count and up to 20 years on the possession count. He faces supervised release for life 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 U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, 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. 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.
Deputy Attorney General Recognizes Maine AUSA and MDEA Special AgentRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Assistant U.S. Attorney (“AUSA”) Joel Casey of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of Maine was one of 162 members of the Department of Justice recognized by Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, and Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys (EOUSA) Director James Crowell, IV at the 34th Director’s Awards Ceremony today in Washington D.C. Maine Drug Enforcement Agency (“MDEA”) Special Agent Christopher Gardner was also recognized posthumously.
The District of Maine was one of 35 districts represented at the ceremony which was held in the Great Hall at the Robert F. Kennedy Department of Justice Building.
In addressing the award recipients and guests, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein said, “Today’s honorees earned the esteem of their colleagues. But most importantly, they earned the gratitude of our fellow citizens — the people whose communities you made safer, whose lives you improved, and whose trust you rewarded. Today, we pause to honor and recognize a small portion of your work.”
AUSA Casey, Special Agent Gardiner and their counterparts in Connecticut were recognized for Superior Performance by a Litigative Team for their work investigating and prosecuting the Red Side Guerilla Brims (RSGB”). The investigation revealed that members and associates of the RSGB, a sect of the Bloods street gang based in New Haven, were engaged in narcotics trafficking and related acts of violence, including murder, attempted murder, assaults and armed robberies. In addition to distributing crack cocaine and other narcotics in and around New Haven, the investigation indicated that members and associates of the RSGB transported the drugs to Bangor, Maine, and sold them in Bangor and its surrounding communities. The RSGB also traded narcotics for firearms and used drug addicts as straw purchasers of firearms. Members then brought the firearms back to New Haven and distributed them to gang members. As a result of this investigation, 21 members and associates of the RSGB were convicted of federal charges in Connecticut and Maine. The investigation resolved seven murder cases, four attempted murders and four armed robberies that occurred in 2011 and 2012.
EOUSA provides oversight, general executive assistance, and direction to the 94 United States Attorneys’ offices around the country. For more information on EOUSA and its mission, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is charged with enforcing federal criminal laws in Maine and representing the federal government in civil litigation. The Office is composed of about 26 Assistant U.S. Attorneys and 25 staff members at offices in Portland and Bangor. For more information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me.
Bowdoin Man Sentenced to Two Years for Failing to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that David Forrest Noel, 40 of Bowdoin, Maine was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge D. Brock Hornby to two years in prison and five years of supervised release for failing to register as a sex offender. Noel pleaded guilty on June 22, 2017.
According to court records, Noel was required by law to register as a sex offender because he was convicted in Massachusetts in 2010 of indecent assault and battery on a child. After that conviction, Noel registered as a sex offender in Massachusetts. He moved to Maine in 2016 and failed to notify appropriate authorities of the move and failed to register as a sex offender in Maine.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Marshals Service.
New Hampshire Man Sentenced to a Year and a Day for Making a False Tax ClaimRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Robert E. DeAngelis, 38, of Portsmouth, New Hampshire was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge Jon D. Levy to one year and one day in prison and three years of supervised release for making a false claim for a federal tax refund. DeAngleis also was ordered to pay $100,574 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”). He pled guilty on January 16, 2018.
According to court records, DeAngelis, who was then residing in North Berwick, Maine, falsely reported his income, as well as the amount of federal income tax withheld from him, on his 2014 joint income tax return. As a result, the IRS issued a refund payment in the amount of $31,615, to which he was not entitled. The restitution order reflected improper refund payments he obtained in connection with the filing of his 2011, 2012 and 2014 tax returns.
The case was investigated by the IRS, Criminal Investigations.
Bangor Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that David Jack, 44, of Bangor, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. to 10 years in prison and 15 years of supervised release for possessing child pornography. Jack pleaded guilty on January 26, 2018.
According to court records, in the summer of 2016, the defendant, while living in Bangor, used his cellular telephone to show images of children engaged in sexual activity to a 9-year-old girl. Shortly thereafter, detectives with the Bangor Police Department obtained a search warrant for the defendant’s home and seized two laptop computers and a cellular telephone. A forensic examination of those devices revealed over two thousand images of children, many of them prepubescent, engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
The case was investigated by the Bangor Police Department and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations. 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.
Portland Man Pleads Guilty to Running an Illegal Gambling BusinessRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that William Flynn, 76, of Portland, Maine, pleaded guilty yesterday in U.S. District Court to running an illegal gambling business.
According to court records, between 2010 and April 7, 2017, Flynn was a participant in Stephen Mardigan’s illegal sports gambling business operating in Portland. This business received bets on professional and college sporting events. Flynn coordinated bets with Mardigan, shared profits and losses with him, and communicated regularly with him about sports lines, bets taken, and other aspects of the business. Mardigan also served as the “bank” for Flynn’s bets.
The defendant faces up to five years in jail and twice the gain on the gambling charge. He agreed to forfeit $74,690. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.
This case was investigated by the FBI’s Southern Maine Gang Task Force; the Portland, South Portland, Lewiston, Westbrook, Bangor, and Cape Elizabeth Police Departments; the Maine State Police; the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation; and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
Pittsfield Man Pleads Guilty to Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Steven P. Springer II, 25, of Pittsfield, Maine, pled guilty yesterday in U.S. District Court to providing false information during the purchase firearms.
According to court records, on February 22, 2015, Springer purchased a Kel-Tec PF9 semi-automatic pistol from a federally licensed firearms dealer. In connection with the purchase, Lewis completed a Firearms Transaction Record form in which he falsely reported that he was the actual purchaser of the firearm. Two days later, Springer purchased two Kel-Tec P11 semi-automatic pistols from another federally licensed dealer, again falsely reporting on the form that he was the actual purchaser of the firearms. On both occasions, Springer was buying the firearms for another individual who was prohibited from purchasing them.
Springer 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 case was investigated by the Massachusetts State Police and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Canaan Woman Sentenced to 70 Months for Distributing Fentanyl, Heroin, Cocaine and CrackRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Toni Juliano, 30, of Canaan, Maine, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. to 70 months in prison and five years of supervised release for possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl, heroin, cocaine and cocaine base, commonly known as “crack.” The defendant pled guilty on December 11, 2017.
According to court records, on September 6, 2017, officers seized about 173 grams of heroin, 60 grams of crack and 113 grams of cocaine from the defendant’s hotel room. On September 27, 2017, officers seized about 100 grams of heroin, 91 grams of fentanyl, 88 grams of cocaine, and $38,222 from a second hotel room used by the defendant. At the time of the two seizures, the defendant was on bail and awaiting sentencing on a state charge of unlawful trafficking in scheduled drugs.
In imposing the sentence, Judge Woodcock described Juliano as “major drug dealer in Central Maine” who was responsible for distributing a “staggering” amount of controlled drugs.
The case was investigated by the Waterville Police Department with assistance provided by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Maine Attorney General’s Office, and prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s Strategy to Combat the Opioid Epidemic.
Boston Man Sentenced to 6½ Years for Illegally Possessing FirearmsRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Keon Shine, 28, of Boston, Massachusetts, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge D. Brock Hornby to 6½ years in prison and three years of supervised release for being a felon in possession of firearms. Shine pled guilty on November 29, 2017.
According to court records, on April 8, 2017, Shine and co-defendant, Dane Mitchell, drove to a shooting range in Gray, Maine, where they rented firearms, purchased ammunition, and fired the weapons. Boston Police Department officers identified Shine, Mitchell and the shooting range from videos that were uploaded to Snapchat. Shine was prohibited from possessing firearms as a result of his 2011 Massachusetts felony convictions for receiving a stolen motor vehicle and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.
On May 14, 2018, Mitchell, who was also prohibited from possessing firearms, was sentenced to 27 months in prison and three years of supervised release.
The case was investigated jointly by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Boston Police Department’s Youth Violence Strike Force 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.
Old Town Woman Sentenced to 3½ Years for Maintaining a Drug Involved PremisesRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Alialin Doughty, 29, of Old Town, Maine, was sentenced in U.S. District Court by Chief Judge Nancy Torresen to 3½ years in prison and three years of supervised release for maintaining a drug involved premises. Doughty pled guilty on October 25, 2017.
According to court records, between April 2013 and July 2015, Doughty allowed her Bangor apartment to be used by Yanel Greene, Mario Lee and others to store, package and sell over 2.2 kilograms of cocaine base, commonly known as “crack,” 154 grams of heroin and oxycodone.
In sentencing the defendant, Chief Judge Torresen said that “a lot of poison had been pumped into the community” through the defendant’s apartment and that the defendant’s conduct was aggravated by her 2009 state drug conviction for essentially the same kind of conduct -- making her apartment available as a location for drug dealers to operate.
The case was investigated by the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s Strategy to Combat the Opioid Epidemic.
Massachusetts Man Sentenced to Nearly 8 Years for Bank and Credit Card Fraud and Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Steven Nygren, 51, of Salem, Massachusetts, was sentenced Friday in U.S. District Court by Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. to 95 months in prison and five years of supervised release for bank fraud, unauthorized use of credit card numbers, and tax evasion. He was also ordered to pay over $815,000 in restitution.
According to court records, from June 2014 through August 2015, Nygren used his position as financial manager of a Brooklin, Maine business to embezzle and forge 63 business checks worth over $732,000 and to charge $62,000 to business credit cards for unauthorized personal purchases. From 2010 through 2016, Nygren also evaded the payment of over $1,000,000 in previously assessed federal taxes and penalties for tax years dating back to 1996.
In announcing the lengthy sentence, Judge Woodcock noted that “cheating others has been a way of life for [Nygren].”
The investigation was conducted by the Maine State Police, the FBI, and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation.
Three Plead Guilty to Conspiring to Distribute Heroin, Fentanyl and CrackRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Melina Snead, a/k/a “Lady,” 24, of Rochester, New York, Jeffrey Johnson, 57, of Gardiner, Maine, and Nicole Truman, a/k/a “Coley,” 32, of Augusta, Maine pled guilty in U.S. District Court to conspiracy to distribute heroin, fentanyl and cocaine base, commonly known as “crack.”
According to court records, between June 2015 and March 2017, the defendants conspired with others to acquire heroin, fentanyl and crack in Rochester and transport it to Central Maine for distribution. Snead sold the drugs in Central Maine. Johnson allowed Rochester conspirators to sell drugs from his residence and assisted in distributing, storing and transporting the drugs. Truman transported drugs from storage to residences for distribution.
The defendants face up to 20 years in prison term, a $1,000,000 fine, and between three years and life on supervised release.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, and the Kennebec County Sheriff’s Department, with assistance provided by the Augusta, Maine Police Department and was prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s Strategy to Combat the Opioid Epidemic.
New York City Man Pleads Guilty to Trafficking Heroin, Fentanyl, Cocaine and CrackRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Ambrose Wan, a/k/a “Ambrose Won,” a/k/a “Bruno,” 33, of New York, New York, pled guilty today in U.S. District Court to conspiracy to distribute heroin, fentanyl, cocaine and cocaine base, commonly known as “crack;” possession with the intent to distribute cocaine, crack and heroin; and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, heroin and cocaine.
According to court records, between July and September 2017 Wan conspired with others to distribute the drugs in Central Maine. The drugs were obtained from sources in New York and distributed throughout Central Maine by a network of dealers. On September 6 and 28, 2017, police recovered drugs from two hotel rooms in Waterville intended for distribution by Wan and others.
The defendant faces between 10 years and life in prison, a $10,000,000 fine and between eight years and life on supervised release. Wan faces enhanced penalties by virtue of a prior conviction for a felony drug offense. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.
The case was investigated by the Waterville Police Department and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, with the assistance from the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, and prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s Strategy to Combat the Opioid Epidemic.
Portland Man Pleads Guilty to Gambling, Money Laundering and False Tax Return ChargesRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Stephen Mardigan, 61, of Portland, Maine, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to running an illegal gambling business, money laundering, and subscribing to a false income tax return.
According to court records, between 2003 and April 7, 2017, Mardigan ran an illegal multi-million dollar sports gambling business in Portland that received bets on professional and college sporting events. Mardigan used proceeds from the illegal gambling business to buy, maintain, improve, and pay expenses related to numerous real properties located in the greater Portland area. In 2015, Mardigan received substantial income from the illegal gambling business that he failed to report on his federal income tax return. On April 7, 2017, agents seized betting records; $142,974 from Mardigan’s residence; $500,000 from a safe deposit box; and $104,072.70 from a business bank account in Mardigan’s name d/b/a “Avenue Auto” that Mardigan used to launder his gambling proceeds.
The defendant faces up to five years in jail and twice the gain on the gambling charge, 20 years and twice the value of the property laundered on the money laundering charge, and three years and $100,000 on the tax charge. The defendant agreed to forfeit over $1,375,000 and 18 real properties located in Portland, Westbrook, Gorham and Cape Elizabeth, and to pay $1,338,891 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”). He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.
This case was investigated by the FBI’s Southern Maine Gang Task Force; the Portland, South Portland, Lewiston, Westbrook, Bangor, and Cape Elizabeth Police Departments; the Maine State Police; IRS, Criminal Investigation; and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
Windham Man Sentenced to 25 Years for Mailing Cyanide Resulting in Death, Fraud and Witness TamperingRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Sidney P. Kilmartin, 56, of Windham, Maine was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. to a total of 25 years in prison, a total of 5 years of supervised release, and a total of $1041 in restitution for mailing injurious articles (cyanide) resulting in death, wire fraud, mail fraud and witness tampering. On October 3, 2016, the defendant pleaded guilty to wire and mail fraud charges. On October 11, 2016, a jury found him guilty of mailing cyanide resulting in death, wire and mail fraud, and witness tampering.
At trial, evidence showed that the defendant acquired potassium cyanide and thereafter advertised to sell it on an internet blogsite devoted to suicide. Between September 2012 and May 2013, he communicated by email with hundreds of depressed and suicidal people around the world offering the cyanide, and accepted payments for it. To some of those victims, he mailed Epsom salts instead of cyanide. When one victim in England did not die after he ingested Epsom salts, that victim complained to the FBI and told the defendant he had done so. Thereafter, the defendant sent the victim real cyanide that resulted in his death in December 2012. The defendant asked that victim to destroy evidence of their interaction. At the time the defendant was engaged in these activities, he was under the supervision of a Maine state psychiatric hospital pursuant to a not guilty by reason of insanity adjudication for a 2007 aggravated assault.
In pronouncing sentence, Judge Woodcock observed that Mr. Kilmartin’s crimes were amongst the most heinous because they involved preying upon extraordinarily vulnerable people, some of whom gave heartrending testimony at trial.
In announcing the sentencing, U.S. Attorney Frank praised the work of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and expressed gratitude for the cooperation and assistance of the Humberside Police Force (City of Hull, England).
New York Man Pleads Guilty to Failing to Pay Child SupportRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Theodore S. Comando, 54, of Westbury, New York pled guilty yesterday in U.S. District Court to failing to pay court-ordered child support.
According to court records, in September 2005, a Maine District Court ordered Comando to make weekly child support payments of $131. Comando failed to do so as required and currently owes more than $10,000.
The defendant faces up to 2 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence report by the U.S. Probation Office.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General.
New Brunswick Man Pleads Guilty to Importing Illegally-Harvested Moose Antlers and HideRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Daniel F. Dyer, 57, of Plaster Rock, New Brunswick, Canada pled guilty yesterday in U.S. District Court to importing illegally-taken moose antlers and a hide.
According to court records, on September 28, 2013, Daniel Dyer, a Canadian outfitter and guide, arranged for Richard Eaton, a West Virginia resident, to unlawfully harvest a moose in New Brunswick using a license issued to a New Brunswick resident. Dyer later brought the hide and antlers of the moose through Maine. Dyer delivered the hide to a taxidermist in Pennsylvania and the antlers to Eaton in West Virginia. In 2014, Eaton was convicted in federal court of receiving the illegally-taken moose.
The defendant faces up to 5 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence report by the U.S. Probation Office.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Wildlife Enforcement Division of Environment Canada (New Brunswick).
Garland Man Pleads Guilty to Failing to Register as Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Roger Edward Picard, 66, of Garland, Maine pled guilty yesterday in U.S. District Court to failing to register as a sex offender.
According to court records, in 1983, Picard was convicted in Massachusetts of Rape of a Child. As a result, he was required to register as a sex offender. On or before December 3, 2016, Picard moved to Garland but failed to register as required. He was arrested on March 1, 2018.
The defendant faces up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years on supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence report by the U.S. Probation Office.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Marshals Service.
Connecticut Man Sentenced to 25 Years for Drug Conspiracy and Illegal Possession of FirearmsRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Erick Adams, also known as “X,” 40, of Taftville, Connecticut, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge George Z. Singal to 25 years in prison and 5 years of supervised release for a conspiracy to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, 280 grams or more of cocaine base, commonly known as crack, cocaine, and heroin, and being an armed career criminal in possession of firearms.
Adams pled guilty to the two offenses on June 2, 2017.
Court records reveal that between about December 2014 and January 2016, Adams and his co-conspirators distributed crack, cocaine and heroin from “trap houses” in Biddeford, Maine, and used a storage unit to store drugs and firearms. On January 6, 2016, law enforcement agents arrested Adams and an armed co-conspirator at a hotel room in Saco, Maine, and seized about 103 grams of crack, 33 grams of cocaine, 6 grams of heroin, and $26,000 in U.S. currency. The following day, agents seized about 685 grams of crack, 69 grams of cocaine, 50 grams of heroin, and four handguns from the storage unit. Adams had multiple prior felony convictions and was prohibited from possessing firearms.
The investigation was conducted by the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the FBI, the Biddeford Police Department, and the U.S. Marshals Service, and prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s Strategy to Combat the Opioid Epidemic.
Norridgewock Man Sentenced to 70 Months on Gun and Ammunition ChargesRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Vance Cayford, 47, of Norridgewock, Maine was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by John A. Woodcock, Jr. to 70 months in prison and three years of supervised release for possession of ammunition and attempted possession of a firearm by a felon. The defendant pled guilty on November 3, 2017.
According to court records, on May 29, 2016, state troopers went to the defendant’s Norridgewock residence to investigate a domestic disturbance. Soon after they arrived, the defendant ran toward one of the troopers and attempted unsuccessfully to take the trooper’s rifle. During a search of Cayford’s residence, troopers recovered 92 rounds of .45-caliber ammunition. The defendant was prohibited from possessing ammunition and firearms because of previous Maine felony convictions for domestic violence assault and illegal possession of a firearm.
The investigation was conducted by the Maine State Police and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives 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.
Boston Man Sentenced to 27 Months for Illegally Possessing FirearmsRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Dane Mitchell, 26, of Boston, Massachusetts, 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 being a felon in possession of firearms. Mitchell pled guilty on August 30, 2017.
According to court records, on April 8, 2017, Mitchell and another individual travelled to a Gray, Maine, where they rented firearms, purchased ammunition, and fired the weapons at a shooting range. Boston Police Department officers identified Mitchell and the shooting range from videos that were uploaded to Snapchat. Mitchell was prohibited from possessing firearms as the result of his 2016 Massachusetts felony convictions for possessing a firearm without a permit and possessing a firearm with a defaced serial number.
The case was investigated jointly by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Boston Police Department’s Youth Violence Strike Force 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.
Biddeford Man Sentenced to Seven Years for Credit Union RobberyRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine. United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank, announced that Glenn Brackett, 49, of Biddeford, Maine was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge George Z. Singal to seven years in prison and three years of supervised release for robbing a credit union.
According to court records, on August 16, 2017, Brackett entered the Infinity Federal Credit Union, in Arundel, Maine, approached a teller with his hand hidden in a sock making it appear that he was armed, and ordered the teller to give him everything. The teller gave Brackett money and he absconded in a vehicle. Law enforcement officers responded to the area of the robbery and Brackett sped away when he saw a marked police cruiser. Soon thereafter, police found his vehicle abandoned behind a local business. The police tracked him into the woods behind the business and arrested him, recovering all the money Brackett stole from the bank.
This investigation was conducted by the Biddeford Police Department, the York County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI.
Gardiner Man Pleads Guilty to Drug Conspiracy ChargeRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Russell Truman, 50, of Gardiner, Maine, pled guilty today in U.S. District Court to conspiracy to distribute heroin, fentanyl and cocaine base, commonly known as “crack.”
According to court records, between June 2015 and March 2017, Truman conspired with others to acquire heroin, fentanyl and crack in Rochester, New York and transport it to Central Maine for distribution. In exchange for heroin and crack, the defendant assisted several Rochester dealers in distributing the drugs and allowed drugs to be sold from his residence.
The defendant faces up to 20 years in prison term, a $1,000,000 fine, and between three years and life on supervised release.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, and the Kennebec County Sheriff’s Department, with assistance provided by the Augusta Police Department, and prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s Strategy to Combat the Opioid Epidemic.
New York Man Sentenced to over 19 Years for Heroin and Crack Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Carey Ackies, 36, of Jamaica, Queens, New York, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge George Z. Singal to 230 months in prison and eight years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute heroin and 28 grams or more of cocaine base, commonly known as crack, and aiding and abetting the possession with the intent to distribute heroin and 28 grams or more of crack. On November 30, 2017, Ackies was convicted following a three-day jury trial.
Court records and trial evidence revealed that on January 18, 2016, federal agents intercepted a drug courier getting off a bus in Portland with heroin and crack. The ensuing investigation revealed that the defendant was the source of the drugs. Four days later, DEA located and arrested the defendant in New York. A search of his Jamaica apartment resulted in the seizure of heroin and crack, a firearm, a money counter and other evidence of drug trafficking.
In imposing sentence, Judge Singal observed that Ackies was a professional drug dealer who was responsible for sending substantial quantities of the most addictive, dangerous drugs into Maine.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S Drug Enforcement Administration in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the FBI, the Maine State Police and the Lewiston Police Department.
New York Man Pleads Guilty to Heroin, Fentanyl and Crack Trafficking Conspiracy ChargeRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Denton Worrell, a/k/a “Lil D”, 20, of Rochester, New York, pled guilty today in U.S. District Court to conspiracy to distribute heroin, fentanyl and cocaine base, commonly known as “crack.”
According to court records, between June 2015 and March 2017, Worrell conspired with others to acquire heroin, fentanyl and crack in Rochester, New York and transport it to Central Maine for distribution. The defendant and other conspirators from Rochester sold the drugs in Central Maine. In exchange for crack or heroin, Central Maine residents allowed the Rochester conspirators to sell drugs from more than 12 of their residences and assisted them in distributing, storing and transporting the drugs.
The defendant faces up to 20 years in prison, a $1,000,000 fine, and from three years to life on supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence report by the U.S. Probation Office.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, and the Kennebec County Sheriff’s Department, with assistance provided by the Augusta, Maine Police Department, and prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s Strategy to Combat the Opioid Epidemic.
Delaware Man Sentenced to Three Years for Heroin and Crack TraffickingRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Kyle Rivers, 26, of Bear, Delaware, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr., to three years in prison and three years of supervised release for possessing with intent to distribute heroin and cocaine base, commonly known as “crack.” He pleaded guilty on November 28, 2017.
Court records reveal that on August 1, 2017, law enforcement officers searched the defendant’s hotel room in Brunswick, Maine, and seized heroin, cocaine base, Xanax pills, and about $10,500 in drug proceeds. At the time of this offense, the defendant was on probation in Maryland following a drug trafficking conviction.
The investigation was conducted by the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, the Sagadahoc County Sheriff’s Office, and the Brunswick and Bath Police Departments and prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s Strategy to Combat the Opioid Epidemic.
Boothbay Harbor Man Sentenced to 47 Months for Firearm OffenseRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Michael Brewer, 62, of Boothbay Harbor, Maine was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge Jon D. Levy to 47 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court records, an attempted traffic stop of Brewer by the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office on May 13, 2017 turned into a high-speed case. The chase ended when Brewer crashed and rolled the truck he was driving. A search of the truck revealed that Brewer was in possession of a handgun. It was also determined that Brewer had a blood-alcohol level of .308%.
Brewer was not permitted to possess firearms because of several prior felony convictions, including: Burglary (2015); Criminal Operating Under the Influence (2006); Operating After Revocation (2006); Attempted Murder (1989); and Aggravated Assault (1989).
In pronouncing sentence, Judge Levy noted that the “bone-chilling” high speed pursuit, in combination with Brewer’s criminal history, which consisted of 39 prior convictions, required a lengthy sentence in this case.
The case was investigated by the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office; the Boothbay Harbor Police Department; and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Bangor Man Sentenced in Federal Drug Conspiracy ChargeRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Yanel Greene, a/k/a “Nel”, 35, of Bangor, Maine, was sentenced to eight years imprisonment and a three year term of supervised release in U.S. District Court in Bangor, Maine on his conviction for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and distribute heroin, crack cocaine and oxycodone.
According to court records, between January 2013 and September 2015, Greene conspired with others to distribute cocaine base, heroin and oxycodone in the Bangor area and elsewhere. Greene would obtain the drugs from sources in New York City and arrange for others to transport the drugs back to the Bangor area. Greene would then provide the drugs to others who would distribute the drugs and bring the drug proceeds back to him. The Court held Greene responsible for distributing in excess of one kilogram of heroin and two kilograms of crack cocaine.
The case was related to the prior prosecution of Mario Lee, a/k/a “Moe,” who was sentenced to 218 months imprisonment for his role in the conspiracy. The case was investigated by the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. This case was investigated and prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s Strategy to Combat the Opioid Epidemic.
Lewiston-Auburn Men Indicted for Health Care FraudRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced today that a federal Grand Jury sitting in Portland handed down an indictment charging Abdirashid Ahmed, 38, of Lewiston and Garat Osman, 32, of Auburn, with health care fraud involving the MaineCare program and soliciting and receiving health care kickbacks from May 2015 through December 2017.
According to the indictment, Ahmed solicited kickbacks from a MaineCare provider in exchange for referring beneficiaries to the provider. Ahmed and Osman then allegedly brought beneficiaries to the provider and served as Somali interpreters during the visits. The indictment recites that fraudulent bills were submitted to MaineCare that overstated the health and interpreter service provided and MaineCare reimbursed the provider based upon the fraudulent billing. And, according to the charges, the provider then paid Ahmed and Osman the monies that MaineCare paid on the fraudulent interpreter claims.
If convicted, each person faces up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. If convicted, each person may also be ordered to pay restitution to MaineCare.
The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General, and the State of Maine Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Crime Unit.
Both defendants were arrested this morning and are expected to make initial appearances in U.S. District Court in Portland later today.
An indictment is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
Former Wells Man Sentenced to Life in Federal Prison on Child Sex Abuse ChargesRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that United States District Judge George Z. Singal today sentenced William Gaudet, 52, formerly of Wells, Maine, to serve life in federal prison for transporting a minor interstate intending to engage in criminal sexual activity and traveling interstate with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct. Gaudet was convicted on November 16, 2017, following a four-day jury trial.
According to court records and trial evidence, on two occasions during the summer of 2010, Gaudet traveled between Maine and Pennsylvania with an eight-year-old child intending to engage in sexual activity with her. On both occasions, he sexually assaulted the child. The investigation began in 2014 after the child reported the abuse. In 2012, Gaudet was convicted in New Hampshire Superior Court for sexually assaulting another minor in 2001 and 2005.
Judge Singal ordered that the life sentence run consecutive to the sentence in the New Hampshire case. Under federal law, Gaudet will not be eligible for parole. In imposing the sentence, Judge Singal stated: “The degree of cruelty displayed here is virtually beyond belief... I cannot imagine a more serious offense.”
The investigation was conducted by the Biddeford, Gorham, Kennebunk, Wells, Wakefield (New Hampshire) and Pocono Township (Pennsylvania) Police Departments; the New Hampshire Correctional Facility; the Carroll County (New Hampshire) Attorney’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Scarborough Woman Pleads Guilty to Health Care and Social Security FraudRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Carrie Caporino, 46, of Scarborough, Maine, pleaded guilty today to two counts of embezzlement from health care providers and one count of social security number fraud.
According to court records, between 2014 and 2016, the defendant embezzled approximately $295,000 from a dental practice by making personal charges on office credit cards, using office funds to pay a personal credit card and her PayPal account, and by writing office checks to pay for personal expenses, including her rent.
In 2016 and 2017, the defendant worked for a Falmouth physician and embezzled approximately $253,000 by mobile depositing numerous checks made payable to her employer from patients and insurance into her personal bank accounts, and by writing office checks to herself that were not authorized by her employer.
The defendant also used a social security number that was not assigned to her on an application for health insurance when she worked for the dental practice.
The defendant faces up to ten years in jail on the embezzlement counts and up to five years on the social security count. The maximum fine for each count is $250,000.
She will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence report by the U.S. Probation Office.
The FBI and the U.S. Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General investigated this case.