District of Maine
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
U.S. Attorney Andrew Benson Provides Statement Regarding Peaceful Protest vs. Unlawful ObstructionRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: U.S. Attorney Andrew Benson issued the following statement today:
“Every member of federal law enforcement swears to support and defend the Constitution of the United States. This oath guides the men and women of law enforcement as they fulfill their duty to enforce federal law, including the laws relating to illegal immigration.
The Constitution guarantees the right to peacefully assemble and to protest. These are fundamental rights that form the basis for a free society. What is not protected, however, are acts of violence against other individuals, destruction of property, or obstruction of lawful governmental activity.
In the coming days, if Maine citizens seek to exercise their rights to assemble and protest, it is vital that these protests remain peaceful. Anyone who forcibly assaults or impedes a federal law enforcement officer, willfully destroys government property, or unlawfully obstructs federal law enforcement activity commits a federal crime and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
Finally, it is incumbent upon anyone with a public voice—whether that be an elected official, commentator or engaged citizen—to similarly urge peaceful protest and engagement. Divisive, bombastic public statements only inflame the situation and make violence more likely.
Force, intimidation and threats have no place in our public discourse and are contrary to our time-honored tradition in Maine of peaceful civic engagement.”
New Hampshire Man Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing FirearmRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Plaistow, New Hampshire, man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Portland to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court records, on March 21, 2025, Knox County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a call at a residence in South Thomaston. Deputies encountered Dennis Duquette, 46, outside the home with a 9mm pistol in his hand. Duquette dropped the pistol after being ordered to do so by police and was subsequently taken into custody. Duquette is prohibited from possessing firearms as a result of prior felony convictions.
Duquette faces up to 15 years imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case with the assistance of the Knox County Sheriff’s Office.
Operation Take Back America: This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
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New Gloucester Man Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing a HandgunRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A New Gloucester man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Portland to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court records, officers with the Scarborough Police Department responded to a tip that Shawn Small, 29, was attempting to sell a pistol to another individual. Officers then located Small at a business in Scarborough. They approached and attempted to detain him. He physically resisted. During the ensuing struggle, a pack was removed from his person. Inside that pack, officers located a Smith & Wesson pistol with a loaded magazine. Small was a convicted felon at the time and on probation for a state robbery conviction.
Small faces up to 15 years imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case, with the assistance of the Scarborough Police Department.
Operation Take Back America: This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
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Maine Man Sentenced to Thirty-Five Years for Child Exploitation Offenses including Production of Child Sexual Abuse ImageryRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Maine man was sentenced on Thursday in U.S. District Court in Portland for sexual exploitation of a child and possession of child pornography.
Chief U.S. District Court Lance E. Walker sentenced Patrick Hamlin, 48, to 35 years in prison to be followed by a lifetime of supervised release. Hamlin pled guilty on May 29, 2025.
According to court records, in May 2024, federal and state law enforcement officers executed a residential search warrant following a cyber tip report to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that Hamlin had uploaded child sexual abuse material on a messaging application. During the search warrant execution, investigators seized Hamlin’s digital media devices and observed a child-like sex device that the defendant admitted to acquiring. A forensic examination revealed thousands of child sexual abuse images, including sexually explicit photographs of a child under the age of 12 that the defendant had produced. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is limiting identifying information to protect the privacy of the minor victims.
The Maine State Police and Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case. The defendant is also being prosecuted for unlawful sexual contact and unlawful sexual touching offenses committed against a minor by the Androscoggin County District Attorney’s Office.
“Hamlin has earned every single year of his 35-year federal prison sentence. He not only sexually abused a young child, he photographed the abuse and shared it with like-minded predators on the internet, immortalizing his victim’s trauma. This sentence keeps him out of our community and away from children for a very, very long time,” said Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Krol for Homeland Security Investigations in New England. “We are grateful for our law enforcement partners in Maine who share our dedication to bringing justice to victims of child sexual abuse.”
“This prison sentence sends a strong message that the kind of abhorrent conduct committed by Hamlin will be punished to the full extent of the law,” said U.S. Attorney Benson. “This office remains committed to relentlessly pursuing and prosecuting those who sexually exploit our most vulnerable, in coordination with our federal law enforcement partners and the Maine State Police.”
To report an incident involving the possession, distribution, receipt or production of child sexual abuse material: Child sexual abuse material – referred to in legal terms as “child pornography” – captures the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. These images document victims’ exploitation and abuse, and they suffer revictimization every time the images are viewed. In 2023, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) received 36 million reports of the possession, manufacture, or distribution of child sexual abuse materials. To file a report with NCMEC, go to https://report.cybertip.org or call 1-800-843-5678. If you are in Maine and you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted or abused, you can get help by calling the free, private 24-hour statewide sexual assault helpline at 1-800-871-7741.
Project Safe Childhood: This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psc.
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U.S. Attorney’s Office Collects over $33M in Fiscal Year 2025Read the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine collected over $33 million in civil and criminal actions in Fiscal Year 2025, U.S. Attorney Andrew B. Benson announced today.
The office collected $2,762,120.92 in criminal and civil actions during the past fiscal year. Of this amount, $1,422,280.10 was collected in criminal actions and $1,339,840.82 in civil actions. The office also worked with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices and components of the Department of Justice to collect an additional $29,563,154.06 in cases pursued jointly by these offices. Of this amount, $29 million was collected as part of a January 2025 agreement by SVCMC Inc., formerly known as Saint Vincents Catholic Medical Centers of New York, to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by knowingly retaining erroneously inflated payments received from the Department of Defense for healthcare services provided to retired military members and their families.
“One of our most important jobs as attorneys for the Department of Justice is to recover funds on behalf of crime victims and the taxpayers of the United States,” said U.S. Attorney Benson. “Both our Civil and Criminal divisions work every day to ensure that victims and taxpayers receive money that is due to them, and that wrongdoers are not unjustly enriched.”
The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, along with the Department of Justice’s litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the U.S. and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims. The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is paid to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the department’s Crime Victims Fund, which distributes the funds collected to federal and state victim compensation and victim assistance programs.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office, working with partner agencies and divisions, also collected $871,012.00in asset forfeiture actions in FY 2025. Forfeited assets deposited into the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund are used to restore funds to crime victims and for a variety of law enforcement purposes.
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Falmouth Man Sentenced for Tax Evasion, Ordered to Repay $590K to IRSRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Falmouth man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for tax evasion.
Chief U.S. District Judge Lance E. Walker sentenced Jeffrey Riddle, 59, to three years of probation. Riddle was also ordered to pay $590,912 in restitution to the IRS. Riddle pleaded guilty on December 16, 2024.
According to court records, Riddle filed federal income tax returns for 2006 through 2014, reporting that he owed substantial federal tax. Despite reporting that he owed taxes, Riddle did not pay.
The IRS began trying to collect Riddle’s back taxes in 2010, filing notices of federal tax liens on property and levies on his bank account. In 2015, while still owing substantial back taxes, Riddle created a new business, Silica Marketing LLC, and entered into a lucrative consulting agreement with a large tire retailer. Riddle put the ownership of the company under his then-wife’s name despite the company’s sole revenue coming from his consulting work and using the proceeds to pay personal expenses. When meeting with the IRS revenue officer assigned to collect his back taxes, Riddle stated that he earned $6,000 a month in wages from Silica and provided the IRS with a falsified letter showing he would be paid a $3,000 bi-monthly salary. He failed to disclose that he had signed a consulting agreement as Silica’s president and CEO and that Silica was receiving substantial income from that contract. Riddle also failed to disclose that money paid to Silica was being used to pay his personal expenses. Among the expenses paid for with Silica funds was the down payment on a home on Great Diamond Island in 2016, purchased in Silica’s name.
IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case.
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New York Woman Pleads Guilty to Maintaining an Illegal Marijuana Grow HouseRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A New York woman pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Bangor to maintaining a marijuana-involved premises.
According to court records, Jiamin Liao, 30, of New York City, purchased a residence in Madison for the purposes of manufacturing and distributing marijuana. In March 2024, Somerset County Sheriff’s Office personnel executed a state search warrant at Liao’s property in Madison, as well as at a related property she owned in Norridgewock. Investigators found 551 marijuana plants at the Madison property, along with chemicals (including Eagle 20 EW) and a variety of grow equipment. Liao was located at her property in Norridgewock, where she was found with approximately 30 pounds of processed marijuana. When interviewed by law enforcement, Liao admitted that she grew the processed marijuana at the Madison property. She further admitted to packaging the marijuana into one-pound bags and storing the product at the property in Norridgewock.
Liao faces up to 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $500,000. She will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Neither Liao nor her property was licensed through the Maine Office of Cannabis Policy.
The FBI, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) investigated the case, with assistance provided by the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. The Maine HSTF comprises agents and officers from FBI; HSI; DEA; IRS-Criminal Investigations; U.S. Marshals Service; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Diplomatic Security Service; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; U.S. Border Patrol; Coast Guard Investigative Service; and Transportation Security Administration, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine.
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Hermon Man Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing FirearmsRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Hermon man pleaded guilty on Thursday in U.S. District Court in Bangor to being a felon in possession of firearms.
According to court records, on November 20, 2024, Bangor Police Department officers responded to a location near Benjamin’s bar in Bangor in response to a report of an assault with a firearm. A witness stated that she saw Todd Whitman, 38, with a firearm and that Whitman had fired the firearm twice. At the scene, officers observed a revolver on the passenger seat of Whitman’s vehicle. Officers obtained a state search warrant for the vehicle and seized the previously observed revolver as well as a pistol. During an interview with law enforcement, Whitman admitted to possessing both firearms. Whitman is prohibited from possessing firearms as a result of multiple prior felony convictions.
Whitman faces a term of imprisonment of at least 15 years, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case with the assistance of the Bangor Police Department.
Operation Take Back America: This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
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Sidney Man Pleads Guilty to Receiving Child PornographyRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Sidney man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Bangor to one count of receiving child pornography.
According to court records, in 2019 Jeremy Grignon, 29, used social media platforms to receive videos of child pornography over the internet using his home computer and cellular phone. He received some of the videos from minors themselves.
Grignon faces from five to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to a lifetime of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Homeland Security Investigations and the Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit investigated the case.
To report an incident involving the possession, distribution, receipt or production of child pornography: Child sexual abuse material – referred to in legal terms as "child pornography" – captures the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. These images document victims’ exploitation and abuse, and they suffer revictimization every time the images are viewed. In 2023, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children received 36 million reports of the possession, manufacture, or distribution of child sexual abuse materials. To file a report with NCMEC, go to https://report.cybertip.org or call 1-800-843-5678. If you are in Maine and you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted or abused, you can get help by calling the free, private 24-hour statewide sexual assault helpline at 1-800-871-7741.
Project Safe Childhood: This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psc.
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Mexican National Sentenced for Illegally Reentering the US After a Prior RemovalRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Mexican national was sentenced on Monday in U.S. District Court in Portland for illegally reentering the U.S. after a prior removal.
U.S. District Judge Stacey D. Neumann sentenced Juan Mendez-Morales, 43, to time served (approximately 70 days). Mendez-Morales pleaded guilty on November 19, 2025.
According to court records, on October 22, 2025, Mendez-Morales was stopped by police for speeding. When a United States Border Patrol Agent arrived, Mendez-Morales admitted that he was a citizen of Mexico and had no immigration documents allowing him to be in the U.S. Mendez-Morales was previously removed from the country in October 2013 under an order from an immigration judge.
The United States Border Patrol investigated the case.
Operation Take Back America: This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
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Dominican National Sentenced to Five Years in Federal Prison for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Dominican national was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Bangor today for his role in a Massachusetts-Maine fentanyl trafficking conspiracy. U.S. District Judge Stacey D. Neumann sentenced Alexis De Leon, 30, to 60 months in prison. De Leon pleaded guilty on March 11, 2025.
According to court records, De Leon and coconspirators worked together to transport kilograms of fentanyl from Massachusetts to Maine for distribution. The investigation initially showed that an individual known locally only as “Leon Leon” was using a Facebook account and other means to contact associates and customers in Maine and arrange for drug distribution. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) developed evidence that De Leon was responsible for operating that Facebook page and arranged monitored purchases of fentanyl from “Leon Leon.” The DEA ultimately coordinated a traffic stop in June 2024, with the assistance of Maine State Police, during which De Leon was found in possession of a large quantity of fentanyl enroute to Bangor. The court found that De Leon was responsible for distributing over 20 kilograms of fentanyl in Maine. Co-defendants Ramon De Leon and Mandi Ford have also pleaded guilty in this case and are pending sentencing.
The DEA investigated this case, with the assistance of the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency and the Maine State Police.
Operation Take Back America: This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
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Belmont Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Belmont man was sentenced Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Bangor for three counts of possessing child pornography.
U.S. District Judge Stacey D. Neumann sentenced John Haynes, 28, to 120 months in prison followed by 10 years of supervised release. Haynes pleaded guilty on August 5, 2024.
According to court records, between March 2022 and November 2023, Haynes possessed child pornography he had downloaded from the internet on four separate cell phones. Some of the images depicted prepubescent children under the age of 12. He was subject to enhanced penalties due to a prior state conviction for sexual misconduct with a child under 14.
The FBI and the Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit investigated the case.
To report an incident involving the possession, distribution, receipt or production of child pornography: Child sexual abuse material – referred to in legal terms as "child pornography" – captures the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. These images document victims’ exploitation and abuse, and they suffer revictimization every time the images are viewed. In 2023, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children received 36 million reports of the possession, manufacture, or distribution of child sexual abuse materials. To file a report with NCMEC, go to https://report.cybertip.org or call 1-800-843-5678. If you are in Maine and you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted or abused, you can get help by calling the free, private 24-hour statewide sexual assault helpline at 1-800-871-7741.
Project Safe Childhood: This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psc.
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Mexican National Pleads Guilty to Illegally Reentering the US After Prior RemovalsRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Mexican national pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Bangor to illegally entering the U.S. after a prior removal.
According to court records, Alfredo Gonzalez-Pelaez, 42, was encountered by a Border Patrol agent conducting a field inspection. Gonzalez-Pelaez acknowledged to the officer that he was an alien who had illegally entered the United States years earlier. Immigration records showed that he had previously been removed from the U.S. in 2012 and did not have a visa or other documentation that would allow him to re-enter the country.
Gonzalez-Pelaez faces up to two years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The U.S. Border Patrol investigated the case.
Operation Take Back America: This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
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Ecuadorian National Sentenced for Illegally Reentering the US After Prior RemovalsRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: An Ecuadorian national was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Bangor for entering the United States after prior removals.
U.S. District Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. sentenced William Leonardo Dutan Gagui, 33, to time served. Dutan Gagui had been incarcerated since September 14, 2025.
According to court records, in September 2025, Dutan Gagui was a passenger in a speeding van operated by an illegal alien. Border Patrol agents stopped the vehicle. When asked, Dutan Gagui admitted he was a citizen of Ecuador and that he did not have any documentation to be in the U.S. legally. A review of immigration records confirmed Dutan Gagui had been removed from the country in November 2011 and again in August 2016, both times at New Orleans, Louisiana.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection investigated the case.
Operation Take Back America: This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
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Justice Department Announces Results of Operation Relentless JusticeRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: The Department of Justice announced on December 19, 2025, the results of Operation Relentless Justice, a coordinated enforcement effort to identify, track, and arrest child sex predators. The nationwide crackdown resulted in over 205 child victims being located and the arrests of over 293 child sexual abuse offenders. The coordinated effort was executed over the course of two weeks by all 56 FBI field offices, the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) in the Department’s Criminal Division, and U.S. Attorneys’ offices around the country.
“We will not allow evil criminals who prey on children to evade justice,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Our federal agents have worked tirelessly alongside our state and local partners to track down these vile predators, and now our prosecutors will ensure they receive severe punishments to match their horrific crimes.”
“Operation Relentless Justice shows no child will be forgotten and that all predators targeting the most vulnerable amongst us will be held accountable,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “This year, the FBI has led multiple nationwide surges across the U.S. to find and arrest hundreds of child predators. We will not stop until every child can live a life free of exploitation. We will utilize the strength of all our field offices and our federal, state, and local partners to protect communities across the nation from such horrific crimes.”
This month, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine charged Christopher Colson, 24, of Lewiston, by criminal complaint with possessing and producing child pornography. In a separate matter, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine charged Spencer Lillie, 29, of St. Joseph, Missouri, by criminal complaint with sexual exploitation of a minor and the distribution and receipt of child pornography. Lillie is alleged to have met with a 10-year-old girl online, after which he convinced the victim to create and send him child pornography videos.
Those arrested are alleged to have committed various crimes, including the production, distribution, and possession of child sexual abuse material; online enticement and transportation of minors; and child sex trafficking. Some of the alleged offenders include an airman out of Dallas, TX, who was arrested with his wife for producing child sex abuse material (CSAM), as well as a police officer from Raleigh, NC, who distributed CSAM to an undercover officer while discussing his interest in engaging in sexual contact with children. In another case involving enticement of a minor, the Miami Field Office arrested a Guatemalan national who was previously deported in 2011, and had previous arrests for battery, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, and carrying a concealed weapon.
As sextortion cases continue to rise, this operation highlights arrests of individuals who target vulnerable children online including the five leaders of Greggy’s Cult, as well as a Virginia man who persuaded a 14-year-old to produce CSAM. The victim attempted suicide after he allegedly told her to kill herself.
This effort follows two other successful operations, including Operation Restore Justice in May, which resulted in the rescue of 115 children and the arrests of 205 child sex abuse offenders, and Operation Enduring Justice in August, which resulted in the rescue of 133 children and the arrests of 234 offenders.
The FBI’s Victim Services Division (VSD) assisted victims during this operation and provided services, to include forensic interviews, referrals for medical and mental health resources, and coordination with partners. VSD’s mission is to inform, support, and assist victims in navigating the aftermath of crime and the criminal justice process with dignity and resilience.
These operations underscore the Department’s unwavering commitment to protecting children and combating child sexual exploitation. These cases were brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. attorneys’ offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit justice.gov/psc.
The Department partners with and oversees funding grants for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), which receives and shares tips about possible child sexual exploitation received through its 24/7 hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST and on missingkids.org.
The Department urges the public to remain vigilant and report suspected exploitation of a child through the FBI's tipline at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324), tips.fbi.gov, or by calling your local FBI field office.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Howland Man Sentenced for Passport FraudRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Howland man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Bangor for making false statements on a passport application.
U.S. District Judge Stacey D. Neumann sentenced Eric Ericson, 73, to time-served (14 months and 8 days) in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. On October 16, 2025, Ericson was found guilty of passport fraud following a three-day trial.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Ericson applied for a U.S. passport at a U.S. Post Office in Bangor on March 24, 2023. When asked about any other names he had used, Ericson failed to disclose his multiple aliases on his passport application. Ericson also falsely reported that he had never applied for or been issued a U.S. passport before, when in fact he had previously applied for and obtained a passport under a different name. He falsely certified that the information in his application was true and correct. Ericson is a registered sex offender, following his Maine state convictions for Gross Sexual Assault, Unlawful Sexual Contact, and Sexual Abuse of a Minor in 2010.
The Diplomatic Security Service Portsmouth Resident Office investigated the case with assistance from the Maine State Police.
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Florida Man Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud, Identity TheftRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Florida man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Portland to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft.
According to court records, Richard Harris, 23, and a coconspirator, Paul Logugune, broke into unattended vehicles to steal purses and wallets to obtain driver’s licenses and checkbooks. Harris and Logugune forged checks using the stolen checkbooks and made the checks payable to the names on the stolen licenses. They then recruited others to cash the forged checks at credit unions throughout Cumberland County using the stolen IDs to impersonate the ID theft victims.
Logugune pleaded guilty to his role in the offense and has been sentenced to two and a half years in prison.
Harris faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years, a maximum fine of $250,000, and a maximum term of supervised release of five years. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI investigated the case.
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Maine Man Sentenced for Child Exploitation OffenseRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Maine man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for possessing child sex abuse materials.
Chief U.S. District Judge Lance E. Walker sentenced Steven W. Freeman, 47, to 20 years in prison to be followed by a lifetime of supervised release. Freeman pleaded guilty on June 12, 2025.
According to court records, in July 2024, federal and state law enforcement officers executed search warrants following reports that Freeman had possessed child sexual abuse material. Investigators seized Freeman’s cellular telephone and a forensic examination of that phone revealed hundreds of child sexual abuse images. Freeman has a previous conviction in Sagadahoc County in 2003 for gross sexual assault.
Homeland Security Investigations and the Sagadahoc County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
To report an incident involving the possession, distribution, receipt or production of child sexual abuse material: Child sexual abuse material – referred to in legal terms as “child pornography” – captures the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. These images document victims’ exploitation and abuse, and they suffer revictimization every time the images are viewed. In 2023, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) received 36 million reports of the possession, manufacture, or distribution of child sexual abuse materials. To file a report with NCMEC, go to https://report.cybertip.org or call 1-800-843-5678. If you are in Maine and you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted or abused, you can get help by calling the free, private 24-hour statewide sexual assault helpline at 1-800-871-7741.
Project Safe Childhood: This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psc.
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Former Postal Employee Convicted of Mail TheftRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Farmingdale woman pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Portland to theft of mail by a postal employee.
According to court records, Shannon Littlefield, 29, stole cash and gift cards from greeting cards entrusted to her at the Auburn Post Office. Littlefield worked as a Service and Distribution Clerk at the Auburn Post Office from May 2016 through March 2025. In March 2025, Littlefield was observed on surveillance footage on three different dates removing mail from mail bins and placing it under her clothing. When investigators with the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General questioned Littlefield about her conduct, she confessed that she had been stealing mail for approximately eight months. Littlefield admitted that she would open greeting cards and steal cash or gift cards enclosed in the greeting cards.
Littlefield faces a maximum term of imprisonment of five years, a maximum fine of $250,000, and a maximum term of supervised release of three years. She will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General investigated the case.
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New York Man Pleads Guilty to Mortgage Fraud and Maintaining an Illegal Marijuana Grow HouseRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A New York man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Bangor to submitting a false mortgage loan application and maintaining a marijuana-involved premises.
According to court records, Ken Yiu, 49, of New York City, purchased a house in Saint Albans using an $80,000 residential mortgage loan he obtained from a Maine bank. To receive the funding, Yiu submitted a loan application in which he answered “Yes” to the question, “Do you intend to occupy the property as your primary residence?” Yiu never intended to occupy the property in Saint Albans as a residence. From September 2020 through January 2024, he instead used the property to grow and distribute marijuana.
In December 2024, federal law enforcement agents interviewed Yiu. During the interview, Yiu admitted selling marijuana he grew at his property in Saint Albans to buyers in Massachusetts. A federal search warrant for the property was executed in January 2025. The search confirmed that the property had been used and maintained by Yiu to grow and distribute marijuana.
Yiu faces up to 30 years in prison and a maximum fine of $1 million for the mortgage fraud count and 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $500,000 for the drug count. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Neither Yiu nor his property was licensed through the Maine Office of Cannabis Policy.
The FBI, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, and IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case.
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New Jersey Man Pleads Guilty in Fraud Scheme to Swindle Victims in 5 StatesRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A New Jersey man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Portland to conspiring to commit wire fraud and making false statements to an FBI agent.
According to court records, Bharat Awasarmol, 49, conspired with others in a multi-state scheme to defraud seven victims in five states, including Maine. As part of the scheme, victims received telephone calls from individuals posing as government officials. These imposters fraudulently instructed victims to withdraw cash and purchase gold to turn over to the government for safekeeping. The callers then arranged for victims to meet fake government agents to hand over the cash and gold. Awasarmol was intercepted when FBI agents caught him accepting a package from a victim in Maine. The Maine victim had been instructed by an individual posing as an employee of the Federal Trade Commission to meet Awasarmol and provide him with gold bars. Awasarmol made false statements to an FBI agent regarding his role in the scheme.
As part of the conspiracy, Awasarmol also accepted cash and gold from six additional victims in New Hampshire, New York, New Jersey, and Virginia, all of whom had been deceived by individuals posing as government officials.
Awasarmol faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 on the wire fraud conspiracy charge. He also faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 on the false statement charge.
Awasarmol will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI investigated the case.
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Florida Man Sentenced to 2 Years in Prison for Tax Evasion and Bankruptcy FraudRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Florida man was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court in Bangor for attempting to evade federal taxes and engaging in fraudulent transfers and concealment in a bankruptcy proceeding.
U.S. District Judge Stacy D. Neumann sentenced Paul Archer, 46, formerly of Hampden and Orrington, to 24 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release.
According to court records, Archer operated a profitable online marketing business for software installation on computers, earning several million dollars from 2013 through 2015. After an IRS audit in 2016 assessed a federal tax debt totaling approximately $1 million for those years, Archer concealed and transferred assets through two LLCs he controlled and began using third-party bank accounts to evade paying the tax debt.
From April 2018 through November 2019, Archer transferred and concealed assets and income by using a series of bank accounts held in the names of Max Tune Up, LLC, Stealth Kit, LLC, his father, and his spouse. Using a bank account held by Stealth Kit, LLC, for instance, Archer received income via direct deposits, initiated and received over $2 million in wire payments, and used cryptocurrency trading platforms and online payment systems to transfer funds. Archer transferred an investment account held in his own name to an account held in the name of Stealth Kit, LLC, then engaged in trading activity, stock ownership, and dividend/interest distributions. Archer further owned and transacted in Bitcoin using two different cryptocurrency exchanges, purchasing and later trading several hundred thousand dollars in cryptocurrency.
In March 2019, Archer filed a Chapter 7 bankruptcy proceeding. In his Chapter 7 petition and schedules, Archer falsely claimed less than $50,000 in assets; a single checking account; no other assets or property interests; no recent asset transfers; and no connections to any businesses or memberships in any LLCs. Archer repeated these falsehoods under oath during meetings of creditors convened by a Chapter 7 Trustee, as well as in statements made to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maine.
IRS Criminal Investigation and the FBI investigated the case.
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Jay Man Sentenced to Four Years in Prison for Distributing Narcotics and Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Jay man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Bangor for distributing narcotics and illegally possessing a firearm.
U.S. District Judge Stacy D. Neumann sentenced Thomas Ray Cook, 46, to four years in prison and three years of supervised release.
According to court records, Cook sold $600 worth of cocaine to a Maine Drug Enforcement Agency (MDEA) confidential information source (CI) in February 2025 from Cook’s home in Jay. In March 2025, Cook sold the CI additional cocaine and seven firearms for $1,600, from a different residence in Farmington. Cook is prohibited from possessing firearms because of multiple prior Maine state felony convictions, including Aggravated Operating after Habitual Offender Revocation and Eluding an Officer.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and MDEA investigated the case.
Operation Take Back America: This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
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Waterville Man Sentenced for Making Interstate ThreatsRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Waterville man was sentenced on October 7, 2025, in U.S. District Court in Bangor for making threatening interstate communications.
U.S. District Judge Stacey D. Neumann sentenced Benjamin Brown, 47, to time-served, which is approximately 6 months in prison, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release. Brown pleaded guilty on June 27, 2025.
According to court records, on February 8, 2024, Brown posted comments on YouTube threatening to hunt down and kill illegal immigrants. In his comments, Brown said that no one could stop him from killing illegal immigrants, not even law enforcement. Federal agents had previously met with Brown on two separate occasions to discuss other comments he had posted online and warned him about the federal crime of interstate threats.
“Words matter, and when those words are violent threats, the FBI takes them seriously,” said Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Division. “What Benjamin Brown did in threatening to hunt down and kill illegal immigrants was not only reprehensible but criminal, and he is now being held accountable. We will continue to work with our partners to identify and bring to justice those who use the internet to incite fear and threaten violence.”
“There is no online safe haven for threats to kill others,” said U.S. Attorney Andrew B. Benson. “Indeed, threats posted online can have a much broader impact than those made in person. No matter how frustrated or angry you are, don’t post threats to kill someone else unless you want law enforcement to show up and hold you accountable. The U.S. Attorney’s Office thanks the hard-working investigators from the FBI and U.S. Secret Service for their work on this case.”
The FBI and the U.S. Secret Service investigated the case with assistance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Waterville Police Department.
Editor’s Note:
This matter occurred on the date indicated, but the press release was not published at that time due to the federal government shutdown. The release was posted and made available following the return to normal operations.###
Mexican National Pleads Guilty to Illegally Reentering the US After a Prior RemovalRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Mexican national pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Portland to illegally reentering the U.S. after a prior removal.
According to court records, on October 22, 2025, Juan Mendez-Morales, 43, was stopped by police for speeding. When a United States Border Patrol Agent arrived, Mendez-Morales admitted that he was a citizen of Mexico and had no immigration documents allowing him to be in the United States. Mendez-Morales was previously removed from the U.S. in October 2013 pursuant to an order from an immigration judge.
Mendez-Morales faces a maximum prison term of two years and a fine up to $250,000. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The United States Border Patrol investigated the case.
Operation Take Back America: This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
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Lewiston Man Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison for Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Lewiston man was sentenced on November 18 in U.S. District Court in Portland for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
U.S. District Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. sentenced Kulmiye Abukar Idris, 35, to 18 months in federal prison to be served consecutively from a 42-month state prison sentence for Gross Sexual Assault. Following his terms of imprisonment, he will be on supervised release for three years.
According to court records, in January 2025, Lewiston police officers stopped a vehicle operated by Idris for traffic violations. Officers searched the vehicle and found a handgun. Idris had previously been convicted in 2024 for gross sexual assault in Androscoggin County and was, therefore, prohibited from possessing firearms.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Lewiston Police Department investigated the case, with assistance from the Androscoggin County District Attorney’s Office.
Operation Take Back America: This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
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Farmington Marijuana Conspirators Convicted at TrialRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: Lucas Sirois, 45, and his father, Robert Sirois, 71, both of Farmington, were found guilty on November 18 in U.S. District Court in Bangor of multiple charges arising from their participation in a lengthy conspiracy to cultivate and distribute vast quantities of marijuana. The verdicts followed a five-day jury trial.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, from at least 2016 through July 2020, Lucas Sirois was the leader of a conspiracy that involved the cultivation and distribution of well in excess of 8,000 kilograms of marijuana from just one of several industrial grow locations he operated through corporate shell companies Lakemont LLC, Sandy River Properties LLC, and Spruce Valley LLC. Each corporation was found guilty of operating a drug premises.
Robert Sirois was also found guilty of participating in the conspiracy, based on his involvement at the grow facility located at 374 High Street in Farmington, referred to by the conspiracy members as the Shoe Shop. The Shoe Shop was divided into multiple rooms, and cooperating witnesses estimated that it produced upwards of 50 pounds a week of marijuana throughout the conspiracy period.
Five of the defendants’ drug coconspirators, including four cooperating defendants and one immunized witness, testified over the five-day trial. One cooperating defendant testified that for a three-year period, he purchased more than 30 pounds a week of marijuana for between $900 and $1500 per pound from Lucas Sirois, which he supplied to mid-level drug dealers in Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
Lucas Sirois was also convicted of two counts of tax fraud, and one count of bank fraud at trial. Lucas Sirois’s tax preparer, Kenneth Allen, who had previously pleaded guilty to tax fraud himself for his role in the conspiracy, testified that at Sirois’s direction, he created false transactions among Sirois’s companies in order to zero-out more than $400,000 in federal taxes Lucas Sirois owed for 2017 and 2018. Multiple witnesses testified that Lucas Sirois had lied to a local credit union when he opened accounts there in order to hide that he was in the marijuana business. Millions of dollars in marijuana proceeds flowed through those accounts during the conspiracy period.
Robert Sirois was acquitted of one count of possession with intent to distribute marijuana.
Lucas Sirois faces at least 10 years and up to life in prison, and up to a $10 million fine. Robert Sirois faces up to 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. Both men will be sentenced after the completion of presentence investigative reports by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine their sentences after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Trial proceeded in this case only after a lengthy evidentiary hearing on the defendants’ motion to enjoin the prosecution and subsequent litigation, including interlocutory review by the First Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston. In the context of that litigation, the district court found, and the court of appeals affirmed, that the Sirois defendants had been unable to establish that they complied with Maine’s medical marijuana regime in force during the conspiracy period.
In addition to Lucas and Robert Sirois, the following individuals have been convicted of federal crimes for their roles in this case: Randal Cousineau, Alisa Sirois, Brandon Dagnese, Kenneth Allen, former Rangeley Assemblyman David Burgess, former sheriff’s deputies Derreck Doucette and Bradley Scovil, and former prosecutor Kayla Alves, who was convicted of destroying evidence related to the investigation in 2022.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, IRS Criminal Investigation, FBI, and local and state partners investigated the case.
Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces: This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
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False Claims Act Lawsuits Filed Against Two Individuals for Fraudulently Obtaining Pandemic Relief FundsRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: The U.S. Attorney’s Office today filed lawsuits against two individuals alleging they fraudulently applied for and received CARES Act pandemic relief funds:
• Ahmed Suja, of South Portland, is alleged to have fraudulently applied for and received a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan in the amount of $20,833.
• Kamil Suja, also of South Portland, is alleged to have fraudulently applied and received a PPP loan in the amount of $20,832.
As alleged in each of the complaints, the defendants misrepresented that they each owned and operated sole proprietorships with annual gross revenues of approximately $100,000. In reality, neither defendant owned any business. As alleged in the complaint against Kamil Suja, Kamil Suja used the PPP loan funds on a variety of non-qualifying expenditures, such as the purchase of a car and to fund securities purchases on an online trading platform.
The complaints against Ahmed and Kamil Suja were brought by the United States pursuant to the False Claims Act (FCA) and the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act (FIRREA). The FCA provides that any person who “knowingly presents, or causes to be presented, a false or fraudulent claim for payment or approval” or “knowingly makes, uses, or causes to be made or used, a false record or statement material to a false or fraudulent claim” is liable to the United States for three times the amount of damages that the United States sustains, plus a civil penalty for each FCA violation. For FCA violations assessed after July 3, 2025, the minimum penalty per violation is $14,308.
FIRREA provides that the Attorney General may recover civil penalties against persons who knowingly make a false statement for the purpose of influencing a decision by the Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration or to obtain a loan, money, or anything of value under the SBA’s 7(a) program, including the PPP. For FIRREA violations assessed after July 3, 2025, the maximum penalty per violation is $2,513,215.
The complaints filed by the United States are a result of the District of Maine’s ongoing efforts to identify and investigate fraudulently obtained pandemic relief funds. Recent amendments to federal law have extended the statute of limitations for civil and criminal fraud enforcement actions concerning PPP loans and other CARES Act pandemic relief funds from six to 10 years.
The civil actions are docketed United States v. Suja, 2:25-cv-00576-SDN (D. Me.); and United States v. Suja, 2:25-cv-00577-SDN (D. Me.).
The claims asserted against the defendants are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability.
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South Berwick Woman Pleads Guilty to Theft of Government MoneyRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A South Berwick woman pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Portland to theft of government money.
According to court records, Cori Godin, 46, falsely claimed to be unemployed in order to receive unemployment insurance benefits, including federally funded benefits intended to address the COVID-19 pandemic. Unemployment insurance is a joint state and federal program that provides monetary benefits to eligible beneficiaries. Payments are intended to provide temporary financial assistance to lawful workers who are unemployed through no fault of their own. Beginning in about March 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, several federal programs expanded unemployment insurance eligibility and benefits. For a period of approximately 13 months in 2020 and 2021, Godin falsely claimed to be unemployed in order to receive benefits. She received approximately $37,105 in benefits.
Godin faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years, a maximum fine of $250,000, and a maximum term of supervised release of three years. She will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General investigated the case.
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United States Attorney’s Office Announces Appointment of Andrew B. Benson as U.S AttorneyRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: The United States Attorney’s Office announced that Andrew B. Benson has taken the oath of office to become the U.S. Attorney for the District of Maine. U.S. Attorney Benson was nominated for the position of United States Attorney for the District of Maine by President Donald J. Trump on September 30, 2025. Attorney General Pamela Bondi appointed him U.S. Attorney effective October 22, 2025, pending Senate confirmation of his presidential nomination, and he was sworn in on the same date by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Lance E. Walker.
U.S. Attorney Benson is the top-ranking federal law enforcement official in the District of Maine. He oversees a staff of 45 employees and contractors located in Portland and Bangor, including 21 attorneys, 21 non-attorney support personnel and three contractors. The office is responsible for prosecuting federal crimes in the district, including crimes related to terrorism, public corruption, child exploitation, firearms, and narcotics. The office also defends the United States in civil cases and collects debts owed to the United States.
U.S. Attorney Benson was born in western Maine and grew up in Bethel, attending local schools. After high school, he attended the University of Maine at Orono and received an honors degree in German literature. He then attended the University of Maine School of Law and received his Juris Doctorate in 1988.
A veteran prosecutor, Benson worked for a district attorney’s office in central Maine, trying serious and violent felonies. In 1999, he was appointed one of three senior homicide prosecutors for the Maine Attorney General’s Office by Maine Attorney General Andrew Ketterer and was assigned with the responsibility of overseeing and trying homicide cases throughout the state. During his fifteen-year tenure in the Attorney General’s Office, he dealt with over 100 murder and manslaughter cases.
In 2014, he was nominated to the bench of the Maine District Court by Governor Paul LePage. He was renominated by Governor Janet Mills in 2021. After each nomination he was unanimously confirmed by the Maine State Senate.
While a member of the district court bench, he presided over hundreds of trials, including dozens of serious criminal jury trials. He resigned from his judicial position in order to accept the position of United States Attorney for the District of Maine.
Editor’s Note:
This matter occurred on the date indicated, but the press release was not published at that time due to the federal government shutdown. The release was posted and made available following the return to normal operations.###
Texas Man Sentenced to 21 Months for Stealing Nearly $400,000 from Maine Couple While They Were on VacationRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Texas man was sentenced on October 7, 2025, in U.S. District Court in Bangor for four counts of wire fraud.
U.S. District Judge Stacey D. Neumann sentenced Kyle Lawless Pollar, 28, to 21 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $360,000 in restitution.
According to court records, in October 2022, the FBI began an investigation after a Maine couple reported a loss of nearly $400,000 via unauthorized wire transfers and purchases from their bank account. The couple stated that after returning from a vacation, they unsuccessfully attempted to log into their bank account and called the bank to request their username and password be reset. Once able to view the account, they found multiple wire transfers on the statement.
The investigation showed that in August 2022, an unknown person called the bank pretending to be the account holder, requesting the account balance and updating the contact phone number. Shortly after, they also changed the contact email address. Over a two-week period, several transfers were made between the victims’ home equity line of credit account to their savings account. Multiple wire transfers were then made to a Texas bank account held by Pollar. The four wire transfers totaled $360,880. $66,000 from one wire transfer was transferred to a jeweler also located in Texas. Pollar withdrew funds from his account in cash and cashier’s checks, and the cashier’s checks were deposited in other Texas bank accounts in his name. Security cameras captured him making deposits and withdrawing funds.
The FBI investigated the case.
Editor’s Note:
This matter occurred on the date indicated, but the press release was not published at that time due to the federal government shutdown. The release was posted and made available following the return to normal operations.###
Professional Tax Return Preparer Convicted for Preparing False Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Brunswick man was found guilty on October 29, 2025, of aiding and assisting the preparation of false tax returns for others and of filing false tax returns for himself following a three-day jury trial in U.S. District Court in Portland.
According to court records and testimony at trial, Lawrence Okeyo, 48, was a professional tax return preparer in Portland. He prepared tax returns for others in exchange for a fee. Okeyo often collected his preparation fees, which sometimes exceeded $1,000, from the tax refunds issued to his clients. Okeyo falsified his clients’ tax returns by claiming bogus, unreimbursed employee expenses that can be deducted only by a limited set of professionals: Armed Forces reservists, qualified performing artists, fee-basis state or local government officials, and employees with impairment-related work expenses. Neither Okeyo nor his clients met these qualifications. By falsifying tax returns, Okeyo generated or inflated unwarranted tax refunds for his clients and himself. Okeyo also prepared a false tax return for an undercover IRS agent posing as a client. During his interactions with the undercover agent, Okeyo told the agent, “I know that you should pay [taxes]. What I’m wanting to do is save you from paying.” Okeyo then fabricated supposed business expenses on the tax return he prepared for the undercover agent. Okeyo advised the undercover agent that, if he was audited, he would not be able to prove that he was entitled to claim the expenses.
Okeyo faces up to three years of imprisonment for each of the 18 false tax returns he was convicted of preparing and filing. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation investigated this case.
Editor’s Note:
This matter occurred on the date indicated, but the press release was not published at that time due to the federal government shutdown. The release was posted and made available following the return to normal operations.###
Portland Man Sentenced to 4 Years in Prison for Being a Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Portland man was sentenced on November 5, 2025, in U.S. District Court in Portland for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Chief U.S. District Judge Lance E. Walker sentenced Keon Gaston, 36, to 48 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release.
According to court records, in March 2025, officers from the Portland Police Department were dispatched following a report of a suspect breaking a vehicle window with a rock. Officers located the suspect and identified him as Gaston. When asked about the broken window, he replied, “What about it?” and told officers the vehicle had tried to “strike him.” After determining there was an active warrant for a failure to appear, officers searched Gaston and located a Smith & Wesson M&P 2.0 9mm pistol, which had been reported stolen in August 2024. Gaston was precluded from possessing firearms due to previous convictions, including for drug trafficking and robbery.
ATF investigated the case with assistance from the Portland Police Department.
Project Safe Neighborhoods: This case is 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 gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psn.
Editor’s Note:
This matter occurred on the date indicated, but the press release was not published at that time due to the federal government shutdown. The release was posted and made available following the return to normal operations.###
Peru Man Sentenced to 5 Years for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Peru man was sentenced on October 14, 2025, in the U.S. District Court in Portland for his involvement in trafficking dangerous drugs, including fentanyl and methamphetamine.
Chief U.S. District Court Judge Lance E. Walker sentenced Adam Gill, 31, to 60 months imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release.
According to court records, on March 29, 2024, law enforcement conducted a controlled purchase of approximately 20 grams of fentanyl and 36 grams of methamphetamine from Gill. Gill himself obtained the drugs from a juvenile male, a Trinitario associate, whom the gang had dispatched to Gill’s house to sell drugs. The Trinitarios are a Dominican-based street gang with vast operations in Northern Massachusetts who routinely travel to points in Maine to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, and crack cocaine. As with Gill, the Trinitarios frequently find drug-addicted individuals in Maine with stable housing; they then utilize the drug-addicted individual’s house to distribute drugs, employing the addict to middle drug transactions with locals.
Gill’s prosecution is part of a larger operation conducted by FBI’s Southern Maine Gang Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations, the Maine State Police, the Lewiston Police, the Oxford County Sheriff’s Office, and the Rumford Police under the auspices of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Editor’s Note:
This matter occurred on the date indicated, but the press release was not published at that time due to the federal government shutdown. The release was posted and made available following the return to normal operations.###
New Jersey Man Sentenced for Failing to Stop for Inspection at Calais International Port of EntryRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A New Jersey man was sentenced on September 30, 2025, in U.S. District Court in Bangor for failing to report his arrival and present himself for inspection at the international port of entry in Calais.
U.S. Magistrate Judge John C. Nivison sentenced Jason Brenner, 53, to 115 days of imprisonment, followed by a year of supervised release. Brenner pleaded guilty on August 12, 2025.
According to court records, on July 1, 2025, Brenner drove a vehicle traveling outbound from the United States and entered Canada. After a brief encounter with Canadian immigration officials, Brenner turned his vehicle around and sped back towards the U.S. Instead of stopping his vehicle and presenting himself for inspection at the Calais port of entry, Brenner entered the U.S. by traveling in the outbound lane in the wrong direction, bypassing the incoming traffic inspection lanes. Following a pursuit where Brenner reached speeds of over 100 mph, he crashed the vehicle and was found in the woods with a loaded firearm, two loaded magazines, and wearing body armor. Another loaded firearm was found inside the vehicle.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection investigated the case with assistance from U.S. Border Patrol and the Baileyville and Indian Township police departments.
Editor’s Note:
This matter occurred on the date indicated, but the press release was not published at that time due to the federal government shutdown. The release was posted and made available following the return to normal operations.###
New Hampshire Man Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Barrington, New Hampshire man pleaded guilty on November 6, 2025, in U.S. District Court in Portland to illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition while being a felon.
According to court records, in March 2025, Kittery Police Department officers responded to the Kittery Trading Post regarding a potential shoplifting incident. Police were directed to a group of males that had just left the store, one of whom was identified as Jonathan Grant, 43. Officers located a .22 caliber pistol and a box containing 100 rounds of .22 caliber ammunition during a search of Grant’s jacket. Grant was prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition by virtue of prior felony convictions.
Grant faces a term of imprisonment of up to 15 years, a fine of up to $250,000, and a supervised release term of up to three years. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case with the assistance of the Kittery Police Department.
Operation Take Back America: This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Editor’s Note:
This matter occurred on the date indicated, but the press release was not published at that time due to the federal government shutdown. The release was posted and made available following the return to normal operations.###
Mexican National Sentenced for Illegally Reentering the US After Prior RemovalsRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Mexican national was sentenced on November 5, 2025, in U.S. District Court in Bangor for illegally entering the U.S. after a prior removal.
U.S. District Judge Nancy Torresen sentenced Javier Amateco-Navarrette, 38, to a sentence of time served (approximately 50 days). Amateco-Navarrette pleaded guilty on September 30, 2025.
According to court records, on September 16, 2025, Amateco-Navarrette was a passenger in a vehicle stopped by the U.S. Border Patrol in Oakland, Maine. During the traffic stop, Amateco-Navarrette admitted he was a citizen of Mexico and in the U.S. illegally. He was previously removed from the country on two separate occasions in 2018.
The U.S. Border Patrol investigated the case.
Operation Take Back America: This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Editor’s Note:
This matter occurred on the date indicated, but the press release was not published at that time due to the federal government shutdown. The release was posted and made available following the return to normal operations.###
Massachusetts Man Pleads Guilty to Methamphetamine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Lowell, Massachusetts, man pleaded guilty on November 12, 2025, in U.S. District Court in Portland to one count of conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and three counts of distributing methamphetamine.
According to court records, Rocky Buth, 32, was part of a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine between November 2024 and January 2025. In late November 2024, an FBI confidential source met with Buth and a co-conspirator in southern Maine and received approximately 220 grams of methamphetamine pills. On two subsequent dates in December 2024 and January 2025, Buth provided the FBI source with approximately 361 grams of methamphetamine pills and 419 grams of methamphetamine pills, respectively.
Buth faces a mandatory minimum prison term of 10 years and up to life imprisonment, up to a $10 million fine, and up to a lifetime of supervised release following any term of imprisonment. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI investigated the case, with assistance from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Portland Police Department, and the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency.
Editor’s Note:
This matter occurred on the date indicated, but the press release was not published at that time due to the federal government shutdown. The release was posted and made available following the return to normal operations.###
Illinois Man Sentenced to 6 Months for Making Interstate ThreatsRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: An Illinois man was sentenced on October 30, 2025, in U.S. District Court in Bangor for making threatening interstate communications.
U.S. District Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. sentenced Massimo Frangella, 25, to 6 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release. Frangella pleaded guilty on June 2, 2025.
According to court records, Frangella sent seven identical emails to Maine public officials from his email account. The subject line of each read: “You’re going to die.” In the body of the emails, Frangella further threatened: “I’m going to kill you and all of your child raping friends.” He targeted the victims because of their status as public officials.
The FBI investigated the case with assistance from Maine Capitol Police.
“Massimo Frangella used words as his weapon, sending threatening messages to Maine public officials whose views he didn’t agree with,” said Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Division. "Now, he’ll spend the next six months behind bars in federal prison. Please don’t let keyboard courage short-circuit your future. There are productive ways to express your anger and desire for change, but threats of violence will never be one of them.”
Editor’s Note:
This matter occurred on the date indicated, but the press release was not published at that time due to the federal government shutdown. The release was posted and made available following the return to normal operations.###
Guatemalan National Pleads Guilty to Re-Entry After DeportationRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Guatemalan national pleaded guilty on October 9, 2025, in U.S. District Court in Portland to illegally re-entering the United States after a prior removal.
According to court records, Derli Francisco De Souza, 59, was a passenger in a vehicle pulled over by Brunswick police officers in August 2025 for speeding. De Souza identified himself to officers as a national of Guatemala. Immigration records showed that he had previously been removed from the U.S. in 2011 and did not have a visa or other documentation that would allow him to re-enter the country.
De Souza faces a maximum term of imprisonment of two years, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to a year of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Border Patrol investigated the case.
Operation Take Back America: This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Editor’s Note:
This matter occurred on the date indicated, but the press release was not published at that time due to the federal government shutdown. The release was posted and made available following the return to normal operations.###
Greene Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Armed Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Greene man was sentenced on October 8, 2025, in U.S. District Court in Portland for possessing controlled substances with the intent to distribute and for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a federal drug trafficking crime.
U.S. District Judge Nancy Torresen sentenced John Labbe, 44, to 120 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release. Labbe pleaded guilty on July 1, 2025.
According to court records, in January 2025, Lewiston police officers approached and detained Labbe after they observed him operating a vehicle unlawfully. Officers recovered from Labbe a handgun with a laser sight. Inside a backpack he was wearing, officers found quantities of fentanyl and cocaine base. A later search of Labbe’s cell phone revealed communications in which he arranged for the distribution of controlled substances.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated this case, with the assistance of the Lewiston Police Department, the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, and the Maine Attorney General’s Office.
Operation Take Back America: This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Editor’s Note:
This matter occurred on the date indicated, but the press release was not published at that time due to the federal government shutdown. The release was posted and made available following the return to normal operations.###
Federal Jury Convicts Howland Man of Passport FraudRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Howland man was found guilty on October 16, 2025, of making false statements on a passport application, following a three-day jury trial in U.S. District Court in Bangor.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Eric Ericson, 73, applied for a U.S. passport at a U.S. Post Office in Bangor on March 24, 2023. When asked about any other names he had used, Ericson failed to disclose his multiple aliases on his passport application. Ericson also falsely reported that he had never applied for or been issued a U.S. passport before, when in fact he had previously applied for and obtained a passport under a different name. He falsely certified that the information in his application was true and correct.
Ericson faces up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine his sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Diplomatic Security Service Portsmouth Resident Office investigated the case with assistance from the Maine State Police.
Editor’s Note:
This matter occurred on the date indicated, but the press release was not published at that time due to the federal government shutdown. The release was posted and made available following the return to normal operations.###
Bradley Man Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud Conspiracy and Aggravated Identity Theft ChargesRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Bradley man pleaded guilty on November 6, 2025, in U.S. District Court in Bangor to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft.
According to court records, between July and October 2024, Darren Deorsey, 50, conspired with others to fraudulently obtain money by entering banks, impersonating legitimate bank account holders, and using fictitious identification cards to gain access to their bank accounts and withdraw funds. Through fraud, Deorsey was able to obtain funds from the accounts and take out an unauthorized $5,000 home equity line of credit in the name of an account holder.
Deorsey faces up to 30 years in prison, a maximum fine of $1 million, and up to five years of supervised release. For aggravated identity theft, he faces a mandatory prison term of two years, consecutive to any other sentence imposed, a $250,000 fine, and up to one year of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI investigated the case with assistance from the Bangor Police Department, Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, and Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles – Enforcement Services Division.
Editor’s Note:
This matter occurred on the date indicated, but the press release was not published at that time due to the federal government shutdown. The release was posted and made available following the return to normal operations.###
Bath Man Sentenced for Illegally Possessing FirearmsRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Bath man was sentenced on October 2, 2025, in U.S. District Court in Portland for being a felon in possession of firearms.
U.S. District Judge Nancy Torresen sentenced Noah Sibole-Little, 29, to 21 months in federal prison to be followed by 2 years of supervised release. Sibole-Little pleaded guilty on June 16, 2025.
According to court records, in October 2024, the Bath Police Department received information that Sibole-Little had potentially threatened an individual at a residence with a firearm. Bath officers and Sagadahoc County Sheriff’s Office personnel responded to the area and established a perimeter. Officers observed Sibole-Little exit a rear door to the residence with a backpack and toss the backpack over a fence into a bush. Police seized the backpack and found three firearms inside, two 9mm pistols and a .380 caliber pistol. Sibole-Little had 2016 convictions for robbery and aggravated assault in Cumberland County and was therefore prohibited from possessing firearms.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case with the assistance of the Bath Police Department and Sagadahoc County Sheriff’s Office.
Project Safe Neighborhoods: This case is 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 gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psn.
Editor’s Note:
This matter occurred on the date indicated, but the press release was not published at that time due to the federal government shutdown. The release was posted and made available following the return to normal operations.###
U.S. Attorney Urges Mainers to Dispose of Unused Prescription Medications During Take Back Day on SaturdayRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: United States Attorney Andrew B. Benson joined the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration in announcing that DEA will be conducting its National Prescription Drug Take Back Day this Saturday, October 25. Between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., DEA and its partners will collect tablets, capsules, patches, and other solid forms of prescription drugs.
For 16 years, DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day has helped Americans safely dispose of unneeded medications—those that are old, unwanted, or expired—to prevent drug misuse and abuse. Take Back Day offers free and anonymous disposal of unneeded medications at nearly 4,500 drop-off locations nationwide.
In partnership with local law enforcement, Take Back Day has removed more than 19.8 million pounds (10,000 tons) of medication from circulation since its inception. Collection sites will not accept syringes, sharps, and illicit drugs. Liquid products, such as cough syrup, should remain sealed in their original container. The cap must be tightly sealed to prevent leakage.
“I urge all Mainers to take advantage of Drug Take Back Day,” said U.S. Attorney Benson. “Leftover prescription drugs can be abused, stolen or resold. Taking a few minutes to properly dispose of medications you no longer need can save a life.”
For more information and to find a collection site near you, visit www.DEATakeBack.com.
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Veazie Man Pleads Guilty to Enticing Minors and Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Veazie man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Bangor to two counts of enticing a minor and one count of possessing child pornography.
According to court records, in 2022 and again in 2024, Austin Cocchiaro, 24, used his cell phone to induce a minor to participate in the production of child pornography. He also offered to pay for images using an online payment application. On November 14, 2024, the FBI executed a search warrant at Cocchiaro’s home in Veazie, resulting in the discovery of additional child pornography on two cell phones he owned.
Cocchiaro faces from 10 years to life in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to a lifetime of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI investigated the case.
To report an incident involving the possession, distribution, receipt or production of child pornography: Child sexual abuse material – referred to in legal terms as "child pornography" – captures the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. These images document victims’ exploitation and abuse, and they suffer revictimization every time the images are viewed. In 2023, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children received 36 million reports of the possession, manufacture, or distribution of child sexual abuse materials. To file a report with NCMEC, go to https://report.cybertip.org or call 1-800-843-5678. If you are in Maine and you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted or abused, you can get help by calling the free, private 24-hour statewide sexual assault helpline at 1-800-871-7741.
Project Safe Childhood: This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psc.
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Spanish Man Sentenced for Illegally Reentering the US After a Prior RemovalRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Spanish man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Bangor for illegally reentering the U.S. after a prior removal.
U.S. District Judge Nancy Torresen sentenced Jose Angel Hidalgo-Torres, 20, to time served (72 days). He pleaded guilty on August 12, 2025.
According to court records, Hidalgo-Torres was found in Calais, Maine shortly after illegally entering the United States on July 18, 2025. He was previously removed from the country in May 2024.
Hidalgo-Torres was turned over to immigration authorities at the conclusion of the proceedings.
The U.S. Border Patrol investigated the case.
Operation Take Back America: This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
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New Jersey Man Sentenced for Failing to Stop for Inspection at Calais International Port of EntryRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A New Jersey man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Bangor for failing to report his arrival and present himself for inspection at the international port of entry in Calais.
U.S. Magistrate Judge John C. Nivison sentenced Jason Brenner, 53, to 115 days of imprisonment, followed by a year of supervised release. Brenner pleaded guilty on August 12, 2025.
According to court records, on July 1, 2025, Brenner drove a vehicle traveling outbound from the United States and entered Canada. After a brief encounter with Canadian immigration officials, Brenner turned his vehicle around and sped back towards the U.S. Instead of stopping his vehicle and presenting himself for inspection at the Calais port of entry, Brenner entered the U.S. by traveling in the outbound lane in the wrong direction, bypassing the incoming traffic inspection lanes. Following a pursuit where Brenner reached speeds of over 100 mph, he crashed the vehicle and was found in the woods with a loaded firearm, two loaded magazines, and wearing body armor. Another loaded firearm was found inside the vehicle.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection investigated the case with assistance from U.S. Border Patrol and the Baileyville and Indian Township police departments.
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Mexican National Pleads Guilty to Illegally Reentering the US After Prior RemovalsRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Mexican national pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Bangor to illegally entering the U.S. after a prior removal.
According to court records, on September 16, 2025, Javier Amateco-Navarrette, 38, was a passenger in a vehicle stopped by the U.S. Border Patrol in Oakland, Maine. During the traffic stop, Amateco-Navarrette admitted he was a citizen of Mexico and in the U.S. illegally. He was previously removed from the country on two separate occasions in 2018.
Amateco-Navarrette faces up to two years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The U.S. Border Patrol investigated the case.
Operation Take Back America: This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
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Maine Man Pleads Guilty to Illegally Trafficking Whale and Bird PartsRead the Press Release
Sergey Bachkovsky, of Greene, Maine, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Portland, Maine, to trafficking whale and bird parts in violation of the Lacey Act.
According to court records and statements during today’s hearing, between June 2023 and March 2024, Bachkovsky imported wildlife items from Eastern Europe and sold them online to buyers across the United States. The items included sperm whale and marine mammal teeth (both raw items and scrimshaw art pieces), blue whale and Antarctic minke whale ear bones, and a broad-winged hawk carcass. The charging document also includes a notice of forfeiture for wildlife items that Bachkovsky intended to sell, including marine mammal and bear teeth, whale vertebrae, and feathers and wings from eagles, hawks, owls, and vultures.
It is a violation of the Lacey Act, the oldest U.S. wildlife trafficking law, to trade in wildlife taken, possessed, transported or sold contrary to another U.S. or state law. The sperm whale and blue whale have been protected by the Endangered Species Act since 1973. The Marine Mammal Protection Act and Migratory Bird Treaty Act prohibit the sale and transportation of whale and migratory bird items without a permit, such as for public display, scientific study, or enhancement of species survival.
Bachkovsky will be sentenced at a later date. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gain or loss from the illegal activity.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD), Acting U.S. Attorney Craig Wolff for the District of Maine, and Assistant Director Doug Ault of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Office of Law Enforcement made the announcement.
Bachkovsky was investigated and charged as part of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Operation Raw Deal, which targeted the unlawful import and resale of whale teeth and bone (such as in a South Carolina case recently sentenced).
Senior Trial Attorney Ryan Connors of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Scott for the District of Maine are prosecuting the case.