District of Maine
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Passadumkeag Man Sentenced to One Year for Receiving a Firearm While Under IndictmentRead the Press Release
Contact: Chris Ruge
Assistant United States Attorney
Tel: (207) 945-0373Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced that Winston Dale Cronkhite II, 32, of Passadumkeag, Maine, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge John A. Woodcock Jr. to one year and a day in prison and three years of supervised release for receiving a firearm while under indictment. Cronkhite pleaded guilty to the charge on March 6, 2015.
According to court records, on October 5, 2014, following a domestic dispute with his girlfriend, Cronkhite was pulled over by the Maine State Police. At the time he was stopped, Cronkhite had a 12-gauge shotgun and five shells on the passenger’s seat of his truck. The shotgun had been manufactured in March of 2014. Cronkhite was prohibited from receiving firearms because he was then under indictment in Indiana for felony battery resulting in serious bodily injury.
The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Maine State Police; and the Penobscot District Attorney’s Office.
Dexter Man Sentenced to Almost Seven Years for Pharmacy RobberyRead the Press Release
Contact: Andrew McCormack
Assistant United States Attorney
Tel: (207) 945-0373Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced that Michael Thompson, 27, of Dexter, Maine, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge John A Woodcock, Jr., to 82 months in prison and three years of supervised release for pharmacy robbery. He was also ordered to pay $5,178.58 in restitution. He pleaded guilty to the charge on December 9, 2014.
According to court records, on March 10, 2012, Thompson entered the Rite Aid pharmacy in Guilford, Maine wearing a bandana, a hood, sunglasses and gloves. He jumped over the pharmacy counter, brandished a large hunting style knife and demanded narcotics. A pharmacist opened the locker containing narcotics and Thompson filled his back pack with more than $5000 worth of them.
The investigation was conducted by the Piscataquis County Sheriff’s Office, the Maine State Police, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office.
Hampden Resident Sentenced to 2½ Years for Lying and Buying FirearmsRead the Press Release
Contact: Joel B. Casey
Assistant United States Attorney
Tel: (207) 945-0373Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced that Michael Campbell, 31, of Hampden, Maine was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr., to 2½ years in prison and 3 years of supervised release for conspiring to make false statements to a federal firearms licensee. He pleaded guilty to the charge on October 2, 2014.
According to court records, on two occasions in June 2012, Campbell went to Jimi’s Trading Center, a federal firearms licensee and dealer of firearms located in Brewer, Maine, and falsely completed federal firearms application forms certifying that he was the actual buyer of handguns, when, in fact, he had been asked to purchase them by people prohibited under federal law from buying them. Prior to each occasion, Campbell met with the prohibited persons, was told what handguns to buy and where to buy them, and was given cash to do so. After each purchase, he delivered the handguns to the prohibited persons.
The case was investigated by the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (New Haven, Connecticut Office), and the New Haven Police Department.
Georgia Man Pleads Guilty to Failing to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
Contact: Michael J. Conley
Assistant United States Attorney
Tel: (207) 780-3257Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced that James Robert Underwood, 43, of Dalton, Georgia, and formerly of Old Orchard Beach, Maine, pled guilty today in U.S. District Court to failing to register as a sex offender.
According to evidence introduced at the plea hearing, in 1999, Underwood was convicted in Georgia of rape and other charges. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison and was released in 2009. The rape conviction required him to register under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act in Georgia and any other state where he established residency. In March 2012, Underwood established residency in Old Orchard Beach, but failed to register as required.
Underwood faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. He will be sentenced after completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.
The investigation was conducted by the United States Marshals Service.
Portland Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Contact: Craig M. Wolff
Assistant United States Attorney
Tel: (207) 780-3257Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced that William Alfred Roscoe, 29, of Portland, pled guilty today in U.S. District Court to possessing child pornography.
According to court records, in early 2015, agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”) were investigating the exchange of child pornography over the internet. In April, as part of the investigation, agents took custody of a laptop computer located in the Portland apartment Roscoe shared with his girlfriend and her children. Agents obtained a search warrant for the laptop. A forensic analysis revealed numerous still images and video files depicting children engaged in sexually explicit conduct, that a user of the laptop had searched for files using keywords commonly associated with child pornography and that numerous files with titles indicative of child pornography were in the process of being downloaded to the laptop over the internet at the time agents took custody of the laptop. The investigation revealed that Roscoe knowingly possessed the laptop and knew that it contained child pornography.
Roscoe faces up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and supervised release for between 5 years and life. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.
The investigation was conducted by HSI and the Portland Police Department.Rockland Resident Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Distribute Crack CocaineRead the Press Release
Contact: Joel B. Casey
Assistant United States Attorney
Tel: (207) 945-0373Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced that Jackie Madore, 45, of Rockland, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and to distribute 280 grams of a mixture or substance containing cocaine base, commonly referred to as “crack.”
According to court records, between January 2010 and December 2013, the defendant sold crack in Penobscot County and elsewhere. She sold half-gram bags for $50 and gram bags for $100. She transferred the proceeds of her sales to her source of supply in the New Haven, Connecticut area and got cash and crack in exchange. The crack was transported from Connecticut to the Bangor area by other conspirators.
The defendant faces up to 20 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine. She will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.
The case was investigated by the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (New Haven Office).Clinton Man Pleads Guilty to Pharmacy RobberyRead the Press Release
Contact: F. Todd Lowell
Assistant United States Attorney
Tel: (207) 945-0373
Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced that that James Senior, 39, of Clinton, Maine pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to pharmacy robbery.Court records show that on March 31, 2015, Senior entered the Rite Aid Pharmacy in Newport, Maine, approached the pharmacy counter, presented a note that demanded oxycodone and threatened that employees would be harmed if they did not comply. While Senior waited, he told the employees to “hurry up” and “get moving.” He absconded with three bottles of oxycodone and hydrocodone-ibuprofen pills.
Law enforcement officers released a video of the robbery. After receiving a tip, they confirmed that Senior was the robber by comparing the video footage to a known photograph of Senior. Officers also recovered the three pill bottles that Senior had discarded a short distance from the pharmacy. The next day, Senior surrendered to the Waterville Police Department and admitted that he was the robber.Senior faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.
The investigation was conducted by the Newport Police Department, the Maine State Police, the Waterville Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Carmel Resident Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Distribute Crack CocaineRead the Press Release
Contact: Joel B. Casey
Assistant United States Attorney
Tel: (207) 945-0373Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced that Fern Dowling, 41, of Carmel pleaded guilty yesterday in U.S. District Court to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and to distribute 280 grams of a mixture or substance containing cocaine base, commonly referred to as “crack.”
According to court records, between January 2010 and December 2013, the defendant sold crack in Penobscot County and elsewhere. She sold half-gram bags for $50 and gram bags for $100. She transferred the proceeds of her sales to her source of supply in the New Haven, Connecticut area and got cash and crack in exchange. The crack was transported from Connecticut to the Bangor area by other conspirators.
The defendant faces a minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison and a $10,000,000 fine. She will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.
The case was investigated by the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (New Haven Office).
Augusta Man Sentenced to Four Years for Leading Mail Theft ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Contact: Jim Moore
Assistant United States Attorney
Tel: (207) 945-0373Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced that Ryan Pomerleau, 32, of Augusta, Maine was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court by Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. to four years in prison and three years of supervised release for his role in a conspiracy to steal mail. He was also ordered to pay $87,752.22 in restitution. On January 14, 2015, Pomerleau pled guilty to conspiring to steal mail and theft of mail.
Court records reflect that in 2014, U.S. Postal Inspectors learned that Pomerleau had stolen mail, altered checks taken from that mail and enlisted others to cash the altered checks at banks in the Augusta area. Execution of a search warrant at a hotel room in Seabrook, New Hampshire resulted in the seizure of counterfeit checks, typewriters, tools used to alter checks and other evidence linked to Pomerleau. Pomerleau later admitted to Postal Inspectors that he possessed check writing software, check altering equipment and blank checks.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Augusta, Portland, Saco and Scarborough Police Departments.
Westbrook Woman Sentenced to One Month in Prison for Adulterating a Dietary SupplementRead the Press Release
Contact: James W. Chapman, Jr.
Assistant United States Attorney
Tel: (207) 780-3257Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced that Kathy Jordan, 61, of Westbrook, Maine, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Chief Judge Nancy Torresen to one month in prison and one year of supervised release for adulterating a food item, namely a bottle of fish oil capsules, with the intent to defraud.
According to court documents and testimony at the sentencing hearing, on April 3, 2012, Jordan purchased a bottle of fish oil capsules, face cream and shampoo from a retail pharmacy store near her home. She returned all three items the following day for a full refund after tampering with each of the items. One week later, the bottle of fish oil capsules was resold to another customer. When resold, the bottle appeared to be unopened, with the tamper-proof plastic collar around the neck of the bottle. Later that day, the customer returned the bottle to the pharmacist after she opened the bottle at home and discovered that it contained three different types of pills. U.S. Food and Drug Administration investigators determined that the bottle contained 10 fish oil capsules, about 70 phenytoin capsules and several stool softener pills. Phenytoin, more commonly known by the brand name Dilantin, is a prescription anti-seizure medication that has several potential serious side effects. The defendant told investigators that she added the phenytoin and stool softener to the bottle and returned it to the pharmacy so that she could get a full refund.
In imposing sentence, Chief Judge Torresen found that the defendant’s conduct created a risk of death or serious bodily injury if someone had accidently ingested phenytoin without a prescription from a physician, believing it to be fish oil capsules. She told the defendant that a sentence of imprisonment was necessary to protect the public from the defendant’s actions and to send a message to Jordan and others that the court treated this as a very serious matter.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Office of Inspector General.
New Jersey Man Sentenced to More Than a Year in Prison for Illegal Firearms PossessionRead the Press Release
Contact: James M. Moore
Assistant United States Attorney
Tel: (207) 945-0373Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced that Kevin Anderson, 46, of Mullica Township, New Jersey, was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court by Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. to one year and one day in prison and three years of supervised release for unlawful possession of firearms. He pled guilty to the charge on September 12, 2014.
Court records reveal that on July 12, 2013, Maine probation officers conducting a probation check at a Moose River, Maine residence, discovered seven firearms in Anderson’s bedroom which he purchased in New Jersey, including four handguns that he registered under New Jersey law. The defendant was prohibited from possessing firearms because of prior felony convictions in New Jersey for possession of a destructive device, possession of a sawed-off shotgun and stalking.
The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Maine Department of Corrections - Adult Community Corrections; U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Border Patrol; the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office; and the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, Bureau of Warden Service.
California Man Sentenced to 13 Months in Prison for Credit Card FraudRead the Press Release
Contact: Halsey B. Frank
Assistant United States Attorney
Tel: (207) 780-3257
Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced that Jervis A. Hillaire, 25, of Menifee, California was sentenced in U.S. District Court by Judge D. Brock Hornby to 13 months in prison and three years of supervised release for conspiracy to commit access device fraud. He was also ordered to pay $17,987.56 in restitution. Hillaire pleaded guilty on January 29, 2015.According to court documents, on about September 4, 2013, Hillaire, Gyadeen Ramdihall and a third person travelled from New York to Maine with 38 credit, debit and gift cards that were counterfeit or fraudulently altered. In Maine, the three individuals used cards to purchase gift cards and electronic devices from vendors including, among others, Best Buy, Apple, Target and Walmart. On October 10, 2013, an Ohio State Trooper stopped Ramdihall for speeding. Hillaire was his passenger. A total of 17 fraudulent access device cards in Hillaire’s name were found in the trunk of the vehicle under the spare tire. On January 24, 2014, the Biddeford Police stopped Ramdihall near the Walmart store in Biddeford. Hillaire was again his passenger. Ramdihall was arrested for driving with a suspended license; Hillaire was arrested for providing a false identity. Police discovered eight fraudulent access device cards in Hillaire’s boot.
In pronouncing sentence, Judge Hornby observed that Mr. Hillaire was a smart and capable person, but that he was messing up his life. He urged Hillaire to use this experience as a life changer, but said that the sentence was necessary to send a message to the public and to the defendant that this kind of activity will not be tolerated.
The investigation was conducted by the United States Secret Service, the Kittery and Biddeford Police Departments and the Ohio State Police.Sangerville Man Sentenced to Ten Years for Pharmacy RobberyRead the Press Release
Contact: Andrew McCormack
Assistant United States Attorney
Tel: (207) 945-0373Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced that James Stile, 58, of Sangerville, Maine, was sentenced on Friday in U.S. District Court by Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr., to ten years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release for pharmacy robbery. He was also ordered to pay $13,306.93 in restitution. Stile pled guilty on October 31, 2014.
Court records and proceedings reveal that on September 12, 2011, Stile entered the E.W. Moore and Sons pharmacy in Bingham, Maine, wearing a dust mask and purple gloves, and pulled a sawed-off shotgun from his pants. Stile pointed the gun at the owner and the three employees who were behind the pharmacy counter. He then ordered the three employees to lie on the floor behind the counter. A customer subsequently entered the store and Stile ordered the customer to go behind the pharmacy counter with the employees. Stile told the owner of the pharmacy to fill a bag with narcotics. As he did so, Stile tied the hands and feet of the customer and the three employees with zip ties. Once the bag was filled with narcotics, Stile instructed the owner to lie down on the floor. Stile then tied the hands and feet of the owner with zip ties and fled the store.
The pharmacist was able to free himself shortly after the robbery and saw the defendant depart in a minivan. The minivan was traced to Stile’s residence in Sangerville. A search warrant was executed at Stile’s residence early the next morning. Among the items found in the minivan on the property was a used dust mask and purple gloves. Three pieces matching the color and material of those gloves were also found at the pharmacy. Stile’s DNA was found in the gloves. In the defendant’s house, officers found the shoes and jacket that the defendant wore during the robbery.
In imposing sentence, Judge Woodcock noted that the violence and planning involved in this pharmacy robbery distinguished it from the other pharmacy robbery cases and noted that the victims must have wondered, as they lay tied up on the ground with a masked man pointing a sawed-off shotgun at them, whether this would be their last day on earth.
U.S Attorney Delahanty commended the investigation that was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office; the Piscataquis County Sheriff’s Office; the Maine State Police; and the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency. “Their cooperative work led to the quick identification of Stile as the perpetrator.” “This robbery occurred over 3½ years ago at a time when the State of Maine was seeing a substantial increase in pharmacy robberies which became a priority for both federal and state law enforcement authorities,” said Delahanty. “This was definitely one of the most violent pharmacy robberies in Maine. We are very fortunate that no one was physically injured. Stile was quickly found and arrested because of the diligent efforts of multiple county, state and federal law enforcement agencies. This kind of cooperation has time and again provided positive results.”Two Men Plead Guilty to Crack Cocaine Distribution ChargesRead the Press Release
Contact: Julia M. Lipez
Assistant United States Attorney
Tel: (207) 780-3257Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced that Russell Gordon, 31, of Ansonia, Connecticut and Robert Joiner, Jr., 30, of Detroit, Michigan pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to conspiring to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base, often referred to as crack cocaine. Gordon also pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base and Joiner pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of cocaine base.
Court records reveal that between December 2013 and January 2015, Gordon and Joiner conspired with each other and with others to sell crack cocaine in Portland, Maine. Gordon would arrange for the acquisition of drugs out of state. Once the drugs were transported to Maine, they were provided to retail distributors who would sell the drugs in the Portland area, and then return the cash proceeds to Gordon. During the course of the investigation, law enforcement officers conducted controlled purchases of crack cocaine from Joiner and from other members of the conspiracy. Gordon was arrested on January 9, 2015 at 66 Smith Street in Portland. At the time of his arrest, officers found in close proximity to him a bag containing 89 net grams of cocaine base and over $9,000 in cash.
Russell Gordon faces between five and 40 years in prison and a $5,000,000 fine on each count of conviction. Joiner faces up to 40 years in prison and $5,000,000 fine on the conspiracy count and up to 20 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine on the distribution count. Both will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.
This case was investigated by the Southern Maine Gang Task Force, which is comprised of investigators from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Portland Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The Biddeford and Lewiston Police Departments, the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, and the Maine State Police also assisted with the investigation.
The case also results from the ongoing effort of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), a partnership between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply.
Camden Man Pleads Guilty to Mail and Tax Fraud ChargesRead the Press Release
Contact: Donald E. Clark
Assistant United States Attorney
Tel: (207) 780-3257Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced that Russell W. Brace, a/k/a “Rusty,” 81, of Camden, Maine, pled guilty today in U.S. District Court to mail and tax fraud.
According to court records, between about July 1999 and September 25, 2014, the defendant, an officer and director of United Mid-Coast Charities, Inc. (“UMCC”), fraudulently obtained $4,646,636.45 by claiming that monies donated to UMCC, would be used for UMCC’s charitable purposes and not diverted for the defendant’s personal expenses or benefit. In fact, the defendant diverted the funds into his own accounts and used them for his benefit and to pay personal expenses. To execute the scheme, the defendant used the U.S. Postal Service to mail donation request letters, UMCC brochures, self-mailer remittance envelopes and thank-you letters. The investigation also revealed that the defendant failed to report the money he obtained as income on annual federal tax returns thus failing to pay almost $390,000 in taxes and filed false non-profit income tax returns for UMCC in which he failed to disclose the funds he illegally obtained from UMCC.
Brace faces up to 30 years in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of twice the gain or loss on the fraud charge and up to three years in prison, one year of supervised release and a $100,000 fine on the tax charges. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division.
Topsham Man Pleads Guilty to Mail FraudRead the Press Release
Contact: Donald E. Clark
Assistant United States Attorney
Tel: (207) 780-3257Topsham Man Pleads Guilty to Mail Fraud
Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced that Brian Lafrance, 36, of Topsham, Maine, pled guilty today in U.S. District Court to mail fraud.
According to court records, between January 2014 and October 29, 2014, the defendant sought to fraudulently obtain $6,383 by claiming that he was owed that amount for electrical work he had performed at a residence located in Portland that was then the subject of federal forfeiture proceedings. In fact, he had never worked on the residence and was not owed any money for work done there. To execute the scheme, the defendant mailed claims to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Albany, New York and to the U.S. District Courthouse in Syracuse, New York.
Lafrance faces up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
Franklin Woman Pleads Guilty to Theft of Social Security BenefitsRead the Press Release
Contact: Chris Ruge
Assistant United States Attorney
Tel: (207) 945-0373Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced that Barbara Phillips, 66, of Franklin, Maine, pled guilty yesterday in U.S. District Court to theft of public money.
According to court records, from about August 2011 until December of 2013, Phillips withdrew social security funds being deposited in her deceased mother’s checking account. In all, Phillip’s stole over $31,000 by drafting checks to herself from the decedent’s account.
Phillips faces up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release. She will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.
The investigation was conducted by the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General.
Ellsworth Man Sentenced to 1½ Years for Failing to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
Contact: Chris Ruge
Assistant United States Attorney
Tel: (207) 945-0373Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced that James Eggleston, 34, of Ellsworth, Maine, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge John A. Woodcock Jr. to1½ years in prison and five years of supervised release for failing to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. Eggleston pleaded guilty to the charge on February 5, 2015.
According to court records, Eggleston was arrested in August of 2014 for an Ellsworth burglary. Investigators learned that Eggleston was required to register as a sex offender due to a 2003 Florida conviction, but that he had failed to do so in Maine. Eggleston admitted that he moved to Maine in April of 2014, four months before his arrest and had not notified authorities as required by law.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Marshals Service and the Ellsworth Police Department.
Boston Man Sentenced to Almost Four Years for Interstate Travel to Promote ProstitutionRead the Press Release
Contact: Gail Fisk Malone
Assistant United States Attorney
Tel: (207) 945-0373Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced that Fritz Blanchard, 28, of Boston, Massachusetts, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge Nancy Torresen to 46 months in prison and three years of supervised release for aiding and abetting the transportation of women in interstate commerce for prostitution. On August 28, 2014, following a four-day jury trial, a jury found him guilty of the charge.
According to the indictment and trial evidence, on March 27, 2013, Blanchard and Samuel Gravely caused a Presque Isle woman and a Portland woman to work as prostitutes at a Portland hotel, advertising their services on backpage.com. On March 28, Blanchard and Gravely drove the two women, and another Portland woman, from Portland to Boston intending that the three work as prostitutes there. When they arrived in Boston, Blanchard took two of the women to a downtown street and told them how to attract customers and engage in prostitution. One of the two women, upon learning what was expected of her, feigned illness, separated herself, and contacted the police.
U.S. Attorney Delahanty commended the cooperation of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies in Maine and Massachusetts that lead to the rescue of these women and the successful prosecution and conviction of the defendant.
The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Boston Police Department; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Portland, Presque Isle, Old Town, Brunswick and Saco Police Departments; the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency; and Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office.
Sidney Man Sentenced to Seven Years on Pharmacy Robbery ChargesRead the Press Release
Contact: F. Todd Lowell
Assistant United States Attorney
Tel: (207) 945-0373Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced that Dominic J. Pomerleau, 22, of Sidney, Maine was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. to seven years in prison and three years of supervised release for pharmacy robbery and attempted pharmacy robbery. He pleaded guilty to the charges on January 23, 2015.
Court records show that on the evening of September 2, 2014, Pomerleau attempted to rob the Rite Aid Pharmacy located on North Belfast Avenue in Augusta, Maine. He approached the pharmacy counter and handed the pharmacist a note that read, “I Have a gun don’t push the button or I’ll shoot give me Oxycodone 30 mg & 15 mg and Ridilin 20 mg Hurry make it a minute or less act normal.” As the pharmacist was getting the pills, the phone rang and another employee answered it. Pomerleau left the pharmacy before the pharmacist had time to give him any pills. About 20 minutes later, Pomerleau robbed the Rite Aid Pharmacy located on Hospital Street in Augusta. He approached the pharmacy counter with a note that demanded oxycodone and absconded with three bottles of oxycodone. Both encounters were captured on surveillance video and witnesses provided descriptions of Pomerleau and his distinctive arm and neck tattoos.
The investigation was conducted by the Augusta Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Biddeford Man Sentenced to Almost 6 Years for Heroin and Crack Cocaine TraffickingRead the Press Release
Contact: Daniel J. Perry
Assistant United States Attorney
Tel: (207) 780-3257Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced that Garrett Griffin, age 25, of Biddeford, Maine was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge Nancy Torresen to 70 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute cocaine base, a/k/a “crack” cocaine and heroin. He pled guilty to the charges on January 29, 2015.
According to court records, in 2014, Griffin distributed heroin and crack cocaine in the Lewiston area. Agents learned of a specific delivery that Griffen was to make, intercepted him when he arrived to make the delivery, and seized from him the heroin and crack cocaine that he intended to deliver.This case results from a joint investigation conducted by Maine Drug Enforcement Agency and the Maine State Police.
New Hampshire Man Sentenced to Almost 20 Years for Heroin and Cocaine TraffickingRead the Press Release
Contact: Daniel J. Perry
Assistant United States Attorney
Tel: (207) 780-3257Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced that Andre Hunter, 48, of Rochester, New Hampshire was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge Nancy Torresen to 235 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute cocaine and heroin. He pled guilty to the charges on December 18, 2014.
According to court records, from April 2014 until his arrest in October 2014, Hunter distributed between 700 and 1,000 grams of heroin to dealers in Portland and Rochester who distributed it to customers in those areas. On September 26, 2014, Hunter was stopped while driving from Rochester to Portland because the police suspected he was delivering drugs. A search of his vehicle led to the seizure of about 24 grams of heroin and 5 grams of cocaine. A search of his Rochester residence resulted in the seizure of a digital scale with drug residue, drug packaging and $30,000.This case results from a joint investigation conducted by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Maine State Police and the Strafford County Drug Task Force.
Westbrook Man Sentenced to Nine Years for Transporting Child Pornography and Making ThreatsRead the Press Release
Contact: Craig M. Wolff
Assistant United States Attorney
Tel: (207) 780-3257Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced that Michael Van Eekhout, 51, of Westbrook, Maine, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge Jon D. Levy to nine years in prison and five years of supervised release for transporting child pornography and transmitting an extortionate threat. Van Eekhout pleaded guilty to the charges on January 21, 2015.
According to court records, in late 2011, Van Eekhout, posing online under an assumed name, persuaded a woman to send him nude photographs of herself. He then told her that he would widely disseminate the photos unless she took explicit photos of herself and sent them to him. When she did so, he posted the photos online. In April 2012, he threatened to continue doing so unless she sent him more explicit photos.
In June 2014, Van Eekhout, posing as the woman, sent an undercover federal agent a digital photograph of a naked pre-pubescent female. The next month, he was interviewed during the execution of a search warrant at his Westbrook home and admitted that he had sent the photograph and had pretended to be the woman.
The investigation was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”). "Child predators are finding more and more that anonymity in their online activities is a false notion," said Bruce Foucart, special agent in charge for HSI Boston. "HSI will continue to use our unique authorities and expertise to find these predators despite their best efforts to hide their true identities."
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. The initiative, which is led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.Sedgwick Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Contact: Andrew McCormack
Assistant United States Attorney
Tel: (207) 945-0373Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced that John Tapley, 58, of Sedgwick, Maine, was sentenced today in U.S District Court by Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. to 10 years in prison and 10 years of supervised release for possession of child pornography. He pleaded guilty to the charge on December 29, 2014.
Court records and proceedings reveal that in January of 2013, Tapley brought his laptop computer to a computer repair shop for service. A service technician found sexually suggestive images of prepubescent girls on the computer and reported it to the police. Law enforcement agents obtained a search warrant for the computer and found images and videos of child pornography.
Tapley faced an enhanced sentence because of two prior Maine Superior Court convictions for unlawful sexual contact with minors.
The investigation was conducted by the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit, and the Ellsworth Police Department.
Portland Man Sentenced to Six Years on Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
Contact: Benjamin M. Block
Assistant United States Attorney
Tel: (207) 780-3257Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced that Anthony Thea, 20, of Portland, Maine, was sentenced in U.S. District Court by Judge Jon D. Levy to six years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release for transportation and possession of child pornography. Thea was also ordered to pay $1,500 in restitution. He pleaded guilty on January 20, 2015.
According to court records, in August 2014, an undercover federal agent identified a computer later traced to Thea making images of child pornography available for download via a peer-to-peer file sharing program. On October 9, 2014, federal agents executed a search warrant at an apartment in South Portland where Thea occasionally stayed and seized a laptop. Thea admitted owning the laptop and using a peer-to-peer file sharing program to download images of child pornography. He also said that he had used his cellular telephone to make video recordings of minors in public restrooms and saved them on his computer. A forensic analysis of the laptop’s hard drive revealed 2,680 still images and 903 videos of child pornography and about 80 digital recordings of minor males urinating in restrooms that Thea recorded between June 2011 and May 2013 without the knowledge or consent of the victims.
“HSI investigations involving child exploitation fall under Operation Predator, and this case is a clear demonstration of why we use the term predator for those who seek to victimize the innocent,” said Bruce Foucart, special agent in charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New England. “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners across the state of Maine, and at the U.S. Attorney’s Office to aggressively target criminals who prey on the most vulnerable members of society.”
U.S. Attorney Delahanty commended the work of HSI noting that: “These cases are very difficult because of the subject matter and the necessity to link the defendant to the disturbing images and on-line conduct.”
The investigation was conducted by HSI, with the assistance of the South Portland Police Department. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.Former Kittery Woman Pleads Guilty to Bankruptcy Fraud ChargesRead the Press Release
Contact: Donald E. Clark
Assistant United States Attorney
Tel: (207) 780-3257Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced that Rana J. Clarizio, 46, of Oak Brook, Illinois, and formerly of Kittery, Maine, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to bankruptcy fraud.
According to court records, on March 21, 2014 the defendant filed for bankruptcy in Maine. On April 4, 2014, she filed Schedules of Assets and Liabilities (“schedules”) and a Statement of Financial Affairs (“SOFA”) under the penalty of perjury in which she failed to disclose more than $70,000 worth of property of the bankruptcy estate. On May 2, 2014, she testified under oath at a meeting of her creditors that her schedules and SOFA were true and correct. In addition, in anticipation of the bankruptcy filing, she transferred and concealed over $125,000 worth of property of the estate that she failed to disclose in her April schedules and SOFA.
Clarizio faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine on each charge. She will be sentenced after completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.Pembroke Woman Pleads Guilty to Making False Statements to Obtain Social Security BenefitsRead the Press Release
Contact: Andrew McCormack
Assistant United States Attorney
Tel: (207) 945-0373Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced that Rosemary Peterson, 29, of Pembroke, Maine, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Bangor to making false statements to obtain Social Security Disability Insurance (“SSDI”) benefits. SSDI benefits are paid by the Social Security Administration (“SSA”) to people with disabilities.
According to court records, from April 2011 until November 2012, the defendant was designated as the representative payee for her boyfriend’s SSDI benefits. During this period of time, her boyfriend received over $17,000 in SSDI benefits. In November 2011, the defendant’s boyfriend was required to undergo a Continuing Disability Review to determine if he was still disabled. During this review, the defendant claimed that her boyfriend did not work outside the house and required someone to clean, bathe, dress and cook for him. In fact, the defendant had lived with her boyfriend for several years and was well aware that he did not have disabilities that required her to clean, bathe, dress and cook for him. She was also aware that her boyfriend did a significant amount of work outside the house including working as a scrap metal dealer, carpenter and woodcutter.
The defendant faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. She will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.
The investigation was conducted by the SSA’s Office of the Inspector General.
Corinth Man Sentenced to Four Years for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Contact: Andrew McCormack
Assistant United States Attorney
Tel: (207) 945-0373Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced that David Livingston Brown, 41, of Corinth, Maine, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge George Z. Singal to four years in prison to be followed by eight years of supervised release for possession of child pornography. Brown pleaded guilty to the charge on July 28, 2014.
According to court records, in April 2013, Brown emailed a video containing child pornography to an undercover federal agent. On July 18, 2013, a search warrant was executed at the defendant’s residence in Corinth. The defendant admitted sending and receiving images of child pornography by email and collecting hundreds of images and videos of child pornography over several years. A forensic examination of computers and computer storage devices seized from the residence revealed hundreds of images and videos of child pornography.
The investigation was conducted jointly by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Canadian Man Sentenced to 8½ Years in Prison for Transporting Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Contact: Craig M. Wolff
Assistant United States Attorney
Tel: (207) 780-3257Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced that Kevin Rockwell, 32, of Leduc, Alberta, Canada, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge Jon D. Levy to 8½ years in prison and 10 years of supervised release for transporting child pornography. Rockwell pleaded guilty to the charge on October 29, 2014.
According to court records, in April 2013, Rockwell, who was in Canada, sent an email message to the undercover email account of a Special Agent with Homeland Security Investigations in Maine. Attached to the email was a file containing 38 images of sexually explicit conduct involving young children. Rockwell was indicted in the District of Maine in May 2013, and his extradition from Canada was sought. The Canadian Minister of Justice ordered him surrendered to American law enforcement officials in May 2014.
The investigation was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. U.S. Attorney Thomas Delahanty said, “The internet has made the distribution of child pornography an international problem. The bi-national cooperation of American and Canadian law enforcement agencies, so crucial to tackling crimes spanning the two countries, was a key factor in bringing Mr. Rockwell to justice.”
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. The initiative, which is led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Perry Woman Sentenced to Four Months on Drug and Food Stamp Fraud ChargesRead the Press Release
Contact: Jim Moore
Assistant United States Attorney
Tel: (207) 945-0373Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced that Tonia Smith, 42, of Perry, Maine, was sentenced to four months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release for fraudulently acquiring Hydrocodone and food stamp fraud. She was also ordered to pay $3,933.88 in restitution. She pled guilty to the charges on November 18, 2014.
According to court records, from July to November 2013, Smith used her position as a pharmacy technician at the Indian Health Service Center on Pleasant Point Reservation in Perry to steal the pain medication Hydrocodone from the pharmacy and then shredded records that the pharmacy was required to keep in order to conceal her thefts. The investigation also revealed that from January to November 2013, Smith bought EBT cards from food stamp recipients for amounts less than the credit assigned to each card and then used the cards to make unauthorized purchases.
The investigation was conducted by the Offices of Inspector General of the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services and Agriculture and the Pleasant Point Police Department.
Sanford Man Indicted on Drug Trafficking ChargesRead the Press Release
Contact: Benjamin M. Block
Assistant United States Attorney
Tel: (207) 780-3257Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced that Adam Hill, 34, of Sanford, Maine, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Portland on Tuesday and charged in two counts with possession with intent to distribute heroin and cocaine.
Hill faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on each count.
The case was investigated by the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, the Sanford Police Department, and the Office of the Maine Attorney General, with assistance from the Maine State Police and South Berwick Police Department.
An indictment is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
Bangor Man Sentenced to Probation for Possessing Marijuana in Acadia National ParkRead the Press Release
Contact: Chris Ruge
Assistant United States Attorney
Tel: (207) 945-0373Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced that Alexander J. Batson, 22, of Bangor, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Magistrate Judge John C. Nivison to two years of probation and fined $1,000 for possessing marijuana. Batson pleaded guilty to the charge on February 6, 2014.
According to court records, on May 27, 2014, rangers at Acadia National Park spotted an open container of alcohol in Batson’s car. The rangers located Batson, who confirmed the vehicle and open container belonged to him. Batson also admitted to having marijuana and consented to a search of his car. The search revealed 63 grams of marijuana, an electronic scale, several plastic bags, and $3,200 in cash, all belonging to the defendant. Batson admitted that he sold marijuana.
The investigation was conducted by the National Park Service.
Portland Man Convicted on Federal Tax ChargeRead the Press Release
Contact: Richard W. Murphy
Assistant United States Attorney
Tel: (207) 780-3257Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced that Senthil Prabakaran, 42, of Portland, Maine, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge Nancy Torresen to two months in prison for failure to file his 2010 federal income tax return. Prabakaran also was ordered to pay restitution to the Internal Revenue Service in the amount of $115,529. He will be under the supervision of the Federal Probation Office for a year after his release, during which time he will be subject to home confinement for up to four months and required to perform up to 160 hours of community service.
Prabakaran was indicted in June of 2014 on three counts of failing to file federal tax returns for the years 2008, 2009 and 2010. Court records reveal that Prabakaran agreed to plead guilty to one count of the indictment and to pay restitution relating to the tax due for all three years. “As filing season comes to an end, it is important for citizens to have confidence that when they pay their taxes, their neighbors and co-workers are doing the same,” stated William Offord, IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge. “The sentencing of Mr. Prabakaran sends a clear message that IRS Criminal Investigation, together with the Department of Justice, will investigate and prosecute those who violate our tax system.”
New York Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Contact: Julia M. Lipez
Assistant United States Attorney
Tel: (207) 780-3257Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced that Paul Henry, 25, of Brooklyn, New York, was sentenced today in United States District Court to 15 years in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release for production of child pornography.
Court records reveal that on both January 25 and January 26, 2014, Henry filmed himself on his iPhone engaged in sexual activity with a 15-year old girl. Henry then distributed one of the videos via a social networking application on his phone to multiple individuals.
The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations, the Portland Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Rockwood Man Sentenced for Federal Tax Evasion and Illegally Dealing LobstersRead the Press Release
Contact: Richard Murphy
Assistant United States Attorney
Tel: (207) 780-3257Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced that Robert Thompson, 53, of Rockwood, Maine, was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court by Judge D. Brock Hornby to 8 months imprisonment for evading federal income tax and for illegal sales of lobsters. The Court also ordered Thompson to pay the Internal Revenue Service restitution of $65,172.
Court records reveal that while Thompson was the dock manager for the Spruce Head Fishermen's Cooperative, he and some Co-op members struck an arrangement under which Thompson would buy some of their catch directly from the lobstermen, bypassing the Co-op and paying them in cash. Thompson then sold these lobsters to J.P.'s Shellfish Company of Eliot, Maine for cash, even though Thompson did not hold a License to buy and sell lobsters as required by the State of Maine.
Thompson pled guilty back in December of 2014 to one count of evading payment of federal income tax on those cash sales for the year 2008, although he agreed as part of his plea to payment of back taxes relating to the years 2009-2011 also. In addition he pled guilty to violating the so-called Lacey Act, a federal law that makes it a crime to purchase or sell wildlife, which includes lobsters, in a manner that violates a state law. A consequence of these illegal sales was that the lobsters at issue were not properly reported to regulatory authorities who monitor the State's fisheries. John Price, owner of J.P.'s, pled guilty and was sentenced in 2014 for violating the Lacey Act and illegally structuring cash transactions.
"Tax evasion is not a victimless crime", IRS Special Agent in Charge William Offord said following the sentencing. "We all pay when others swindle the government". Eileen Sobeck, Assistant Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration-Fisheries, added "[T]his sentence should serve as a reminder that proper reporting is vital to the sustainability of our Nation's living marine resources. Violations like this are a high priority for our agency".
The charges were the result of a collaborative investigation conducted by the Knox County District Attorney’s Office, the IRS, NOAA-Office of Law Enforcement, and the Knox County Sheriff's Office.
New Hampshire Woman Sentenced for Transportation of Stolen Property and Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
Contact: Halsey B. Frank
Assistant United States Attorney
Tel: (207) 780-3257Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced that yesterday United States District Judge D. Brock Hornby sentenced Janis F. Woods, 65, of Conway, New Hampshire to 26 months incarceration, 3 years supervised release and $1,135,371.70 worth of restitution for one count of interstate transportation of stolen checks and one count of tax evasion. Woods pleaded guilty on October 29, 2014.
According to court documents, Woods used her position as bookkeeper for two businesses, Grover Gundrilling, Inc. of Norway, Maine and VM Foods of Conway, New Hampshire, to issue herself unauthorized checks. Between about January of 2009 and about January of 2012, Woods wrote a total of approximately 169 unauthorized checks totaling approximately $742,081 on Grover Gundrilling’s business account. The total tax due and owing as a result of Woods’ having fraudulently obtained $742,081.31 from Grover Gundrilling is $224,157. Between about 2007 and about 2009, Woods wrote unauthorized checks drawn on VM Foods account, payable to herself, totaling approximately 220,456.48. The total tax due and owing as a result of Woods’ having fraudulently obtained $220,456.48 from VM Foods Inc. is $59,820. The total tax due and owed as a result of Woods’ unreported income from both Grover Gundrilling and VM Foods is $283,977.
In pronouncing sentence, Judge Hornby observed that while Woods’ serious medical needs and her lack of criminal history called for leniency, her offense was serious because it lasted almost five years and inflicted over one million dollars’ worth of loss on her victims.The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service.
Florida Man Sentenced to 30 Months in Jail and 18 Months Home Confinement for Conspiracy to Distribute OxycodoneRead the Press Release
Contact: Daniel J. Perry
Assistant United States Attorney
Tel: (207) 780-3257Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced today that Michael Serritella, 60, of Palm Harbor, Florida, was sentenced by United States District Judge Nancy Torresen to 30 months in prison to be followed by 3 years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute oxycodone. The Court imposed an 18 month term of home confinement as one of the conditions of supervised release.
According to court records, on June 13, 2013, law enforcement personnel in Maine intercepted a package addressed to a person in Harrison. Law enforcement obtained a search warrant to search the package and the ensuing search revealed approximately 345 oxycodone pills and a note addressed to the person in Harrison stating the pills would cost $4,000. Law enforcement subsequently arrested the person in Harrison after he arrived at the post office and took possession of the package. Law enforcement personnel subsequently recovered photographic evidence from a post office in Florida that showed the seized package had been mailed by Serritella.
Further investigation revealed that from September 2012, and continuing through May 2013, Serritella mailed an additional twenty-two (22) packages containing oxycodone pills to the person in Harrison, Maine. The person would then distribute the pills in the Harrison area and send payment to Serritella in Florida.
United States Attorney Delahanty said that this operation was successful because of the cooperation of federal and state law enforcement agencies in Maine and Florida. The case was investigated by the United States Postal Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency (MDEA).
Vinalhaven Man Pleads Guilty to Making Hoax Radio Call to Coast GuardRead the Press Release
Contact: Jonathan R. Chapman
Assistant United States Attorney
Tel: (207) 780-3257Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced that Owen R. Adair, 23, of Vinalhaven, Maine, pled guilty today in U.S. District Court to a charge of making a false distress message to the United States Coast Guard.
According to court records, on September 30, 2014, Adair initiated a two-way radio conversation using a VHF radio with a radio operator at the United States Coast Guard Sector Northern New England. In ensuing transmissions, Adair repeatedly told the Coast Guard operator that he urgently needed assistance because a crewman on his fishing vessel had sustained a serious injury and was bleeding badly. In fact, the defendant was not aboard a vessel but was ashore on Vinalhaven Island and was using a VHS radio in his truck. There was no injured person. The Coast Guard dispatched a search and rescue vessel from Rockland. After a four-hour search, the Coast Guard abandoned its efforts and concluded that the distress call was a hoax.
Adair faces up to six years in federal prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.
The investigation was conducted by the Coast Guard Investigative Service.
Lewiston Man Sentenced to 14 Years on Drug and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
Contact: Craig M. Wolff
Assistant United States Attorney
Tel: (207) 780-3257Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced that Lamar Young, 28, of Lewiston, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge George Z. Singal to 14 years in prison and five years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute cocaine base and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
According to court records, in late 2012 and early 2013, Young and other individuals sold cocaine base out of an apartment in Lewiston. Young and other members of the conspiracy contributed money to purchase cocaine base and cocaine powder from suppliers in Massachusetts. The cocaine was transported from Massachusetts to Maine, turned into cocaine base when necessary, packaged for distribution, and sold by members of the conspiracy.
Court records also showed that in March 2014, Young was arrested in the bedroom of an apartment in Lewiston. After his arrest, officers found a digital scale and several plastic bags containing cocaine powder and cocaine base in a dresser drawer in the bedroom. Officers also found a loaded Hi-Point .380 caliber pistol in the bedroom. Young possessed the pistol for the purpose of protecting the drugs, and protecting himself from anyone who might seek to take the drugs from him.This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Lewiston Police Department; and the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency.
Wayne Man Pleads Guilty to VA FraudRead the Press Release
Contact: Chris Ruge
Assistant United States Attorney
Tel: (207) 945-0373
Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced that Lawrence A. Stewart, 48, of Wayne, Maine, pled guilty yesterday in U.S. District Court to theft of public money.According to court records, from about October 2011 until January 2015, Stewart received additional Veterans Administration (“VA”) disability compensation based on unemployability when he was, in fact, gainfully employed. Stewart provided falsified documentation to the VA, underreporting the extent of his employment and the income he had received. In all, Stewart received overpayments of over $53,000 to which he was not entitled.
Stewart faces up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.
The investigation was conducted by the VA Office of the Inspector General.
Caribou Man Pleads Guilty to Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
Contact: James M. Moore
Assistant United States Attorney
Tel: (207) 945-0373
Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced that George D. LaCasse, 35, of Caribou, Maine, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.Court records reveal that on May 23, 2014, LaCasse arranged for another person to purchase a 9mm pistol for him from Ben’s Trading Post in Presque Isle, Maine. LaCasse was at the Trading Post when the firearm was purchased. Witnesses saw him with the pistol. He admitted to others that he had a gun. Federal agents also recovered 9mm casings and other evidence that LaCasse had used the firearm for target practice. LaCasse was prohibited from possessing firearms because he had felony convictions in Massachusetts in 2009.
LaCasse faces up to ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and the Caribou Police Department.
Wisconsin Man Pleads Guilty to Transporting Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Contact: Craig M. Wolff
Assistant United States Attorney
Tel: (207) 780-3257
Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced that Ryan Abbott, 23, of Plymouth, Wisconsin, pled guilty today in U.S. District Court to transporting child pornography.
According to court records, in October 2014, Abbott, who was in Wisconsin, sent several email messages to the undercover email account of a federal agent in Maine. Some of the messages contained links to folders of child pornography images stored on a cloud storage website. Other messages attached video files depicting sexually explicit conduct involving young children. Abbott was arrested in Wisconsin in December 2014 and brought to Maine to face charges filed in this district.
Abbott faces between five and 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and between and five years and a lifetime of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.
The investigation was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.Calais Man Fined $5,000 and Sentence to Probation for False StatementRead the Press Release
Contact: Jim Moore
Assistant United States Attorney
Tel: (207) 945-0373Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced that Clyde Eldridge, 65, of Calais, Maine, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr, to one year of probation and fined $5,000 for making a false statement to federal agents.
According to court records, Eldridge owned C&E Feeds, a feed and pet store in Calais. In 2010, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and its Canadian counterpart, Environment Canada, were investigating the illegal use of the pesticide cypermethrin. On September 23, 2010, when asked by two EPA special agents to identify anyone to whom he had sold cypermethrin and whether he had kept records of the sales, Eldridge said he sold different amounts of cypermethrin to different people and that he did not keep track of the sales. The investigation revealed, however, that Eldridge sold cypermethrin on 10-11 occasions to one regional production manager employed by Kelly Cove Salmon Ltd., a subsidiary of Cooke Aquaculture, and that on each occasion Eldridge made a note of the quantity picked up by the manager. In April of 2013, Cooke Aquaculture pled guilty in New Brunswick Provincial Court and paid a $490,000 fine for illegally using pesticides that killed hundreds of lobsters in waters that were about a mile from Maine’s border.
In imposing a sentence, Judge Woodcock said that Eldridge violated the trust of his fellow citizens in selling the pesticide, knowing that it would likely be used in violation of Canadian law and that violating laws meant to protect the environment is a serious matter.
The investigation was conducted by EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division and Environment Canada.
Brunswick Men Convicted on Federal Tax ChargesRead the Press Release
Contact: Karen E. Kelly
Assistant Chief, U.S. Department of Justice's Tax Division
James W. Chapman, Jr.
Assistant United States Attorney
Tel: (207) 780-3257Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II and Acting Assistant Attorney General of the U.S. Department of Justice, Tax Division, Caroline D. Ciraolo, announced that F. William Messier, 70, and David E. Robinson, 78, both of Brunswick, Maine, were convicted yesterday by a federal jury in U.S. District Court for conspiracy to defraud the United States by impeding and impairing the Internal Revenue Services (IRS). Messier was also convicted of corruptly endeavoring to impede the IRS. Messier was acquitted of willful failure to file income tax returns for 2008 through 2012.
According to testimony during the trial, Messier, doing business as Oak Hill Communications, earned income generated on leases from telecommunication towers located on his Brunswick property. From 1999 through 2014, Messier engaged in conduct intended to obstruct the enforcement of the Revenue laws, including providing false tax documents to customers, obstructing IRS collection activities and the extensive use of cash. In 2012, the IRS assessed taxes and interest against Messier totaling $172,000 for the tax years 2000 to 2004. According to the testimony of witnesses, after the IRS sent Notices of Levy to Messier’s customers, Robinson and Messier took a number of steps to obstruct and impede the IRS in the enforcement of the levy, including presenting the IRS with a fake and worthless money order for the amount due by Messier. According to witness testimony, Messier and Robinson urged customers not to honor the levies or to pay the IRS, urged customers to pay Messier in cash to conceal their payments from the IRS, sent false documents to the IRS and sent threatening and misleading correspondence to customers of Messier’s business urging them not to cooperate with the IRS. Robinson claims to be the “Interim Attorney General” of the “Maine Republic Free State.”
Messier faces up to 8 years in prison and fines totaling $500,000. Robinson faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. They will be sentenced after the completion of presentence investigation reports by the U.S. Probation Office.
The case was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney James W. Chapman, and Karen E. Kelly, Assistant Chief at the Tax Division prosecuted the case.
Gardiner Man Sentenced to over Four Years for Pharmacy RobberyRead the Press Release
Contact: F. Todd Lowell
Assistant United States Attorney
Tel: (207) 945-0373Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced that Jesse Mansir, 31, of Gardiner, Maine, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 51 months in prison and three years of supervised release for pharmacy robbery. He pleaded guilty to the charge on October 28, 2014.
Court records reveal that on August 21, 2014, Mansir entered the Rite Aid Pharmacy in Gardiner, approached the pharmacy counter and handed a threatening note to a pharmacy technician. He told the technician that he had a gun and he concealed one of his hands. The pharmacist gave Mansir two bottles of Oxycodone and he fled.
Law enforcement officers located Mansir with the aid of a police dog and recovered one of the stolen Oxycodone bottles. A Gardiner police officer identified Mansir as the robber after reviewing surveillance video from the pharmacy. Two of the pharmacy employees also identified him as the robber from a photo array.
The investigation was conducted by the Gardiner Police Department, the Maine State Police, the Kennebec County Sheriff’s Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Bangor Man Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
Contact: Chris Ruge
Assistant United States Attorney
Tel: (207) 945-0373Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced that Terrance Douglas, 35, of Bennettsville, South Carolina and Bangor, Maine, pled guilty today in U.S. District Court to conspiracy to distribute cocaine, cocaine base and heroin; possession with intent to distribute cocaine, cocaine base and heroin; and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court records, from April to October, 2014, Douglas imported the drugs from out of state and then prepared, packaged, and distributed them in the Bangor area. Douglas, who had a previous felony conviction for distributing cocaine base, was also found in possession of a loaded Smith & Wesson .44 magnum pistol at the time of his arrest.
Douglas faces a minimum of 10 years and up to life years in prison, an $8,000,000 fine, and supervised release for life. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.
The investigation was conducted by the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency; the Bangor Police Department; and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives.
Saco Man Sentenced to over a Year in Jail for Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
Contact: Daniel J. Perry
Assistant United States Attorney
Tel: (207) 780-3257Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced that Michael Paul, Jr., 45, of Saco, Maine, was sentenced on Tuesday in U.S. District Court by Judge George Z. Singal to one year and one day in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release for money laundering conspiracy. He pled guilty to the charge on April 1, 2014.
According to court records and proceedings, from August 2011 through October 2013, David Jones obtained hundreds of pounds of marijuana from an out-of-state source and distributed it in Maine. Paul laundered about $39,000 in drug proceeds belonging to Jones by putting the funds through Paul’s business, Michael Paul Foundations, and by purchasing a truck in Paul’s name using drug proceeds and then transferring the truck to Jones.This case results from a joint investigation conducted by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Portland Police Department and the ongoing effort of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), a partnership between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply.
Penobscot Man Sentenced to 7½ Years for Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Contact: Andrew McCormack
Assistant United States Attorney
Tel: (207) 945-0373
Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced that Kevin Lee Ross, 52, of Penobscot, Maine, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. to 7½ years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release for possessing child pornography. Ross was found guilty after a jury trial on October 21, 2014.
Court proceedings revealed that in July 2011 a search warrant was executed at the defendant’s residence in Penobscot. The defendant was the only person at the residence at that time. Agents found a child pornography video playing on one of the defendant’s computers. A forensic examination of computers seized from the residence revealed thousands of images and hundreds of videos of child pornography.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit.
Cushing Woman Pleads Guilty to Making A False StatementRead the Press Release
Contact: Craig M. Wolff
Assistant United States Attorney
Tel: (207) 780-3257Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced that Crystal Burch, 22, of Cushing, Maine, pled guilty today in U.S. District Court to making a false statement to a government agency.
According to court records, in June 2014, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) was investigating Burch’s then-boyfriend for the illegal possession of firearms. In 2013, Burch purchased several handguns from a local firearms dealer and ATF agents were trying to determine whether Burch’s boyfriend possessed any of them. Burch falsely told an ATF agent that she had transferred the handguns to her boyfriend’s father. Later the same day other ATF agents found her boyfriend in possession of two of the handguns.
Burch faces a sentence of up to five years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. She will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.
The investigation was conducted by the ATF.
Portland Man Pleads Guilty to Immigration Fraud and False Statement ChargesRead the Press Release
Contact: Darcie N. McElwee
Assistant United States Attorney
Tel: (207) 780-3257Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced that Adam Mack, 39, of Portland, Maine, pleaded guilty yesterday in U.S. District Court to aiding and abetting visa and marriage fraud and making false statements.
According to court records, between October 2009 and January 2012, Mack unlawfully assisted foreign nationals who were seeking to become a lawful permanent residents, or green card holders, by engaging in marriage and visa fraud and he made false statements regarding his employment of them to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service.
Mack faces up to 10 years in prison on the visa fraud charges, and up to five years on the marriage fraud and false statement charges. He also faces fines of up to $250,000 on each charge. He will be sentenced after completion of a presentence investigation report by the United States Probation Office.
The investigation was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security.