District of Maine
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
New Hampshire Man Sentenced to over Three Years on Child Exploitation ChargeRead the Press Release
Contact: Andrew McCormack
Assistant United States Attorney
Tel: (207) 945-0373Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced that Chad Amodio, 43, of Milton, New Hampshire, was sentenced today in U.S District Court by Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. to 40 months in prison, to be followed by 5 years of supervised release for interstate travel to have sex with a minor. Amodio pled guilty on November 7, 2014.
Court records and proceedings reveal that in March 2014, Amodio began having inappropriate sexual conversations on a chat website with a 13-year-old girl. Police were alerted and an undercover officer took control of the minor’s account. Amodio communicated with the undercover officer and made plans to travel from his home in New Hampshire to Maine in order to have sex at the girl’s home. Shortly after arriving at the Penobscot County address provided by the undercover officer, Amodio was arrested. Alcohol and a bottle of lubricant were found in his vehicle which he admitted purchasing in anticipation of the planned sexual encounter.
The investigation was conducted by the Bangor Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office, and the Maine State Police.
New Hampshire Man Pleads Guilty to Social Security FraudRead 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 Rodrigo Schumacker, 30, of Seabrook, New Hampshire, pled guilty today in U.S. District Court to social security fraud.
According to court records, in March 2010, Schumacker, a Brazilian citizen, completed an application requesting that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services grant him permanent resident status. On the application, Schumacker claimed that he had been assigned a certain social security number, when in fact he had never been assigned a social security number. The number Schumacker used had been assigned to a woman in Florida who was deceased at the time he used it. He later admitted to investigators that he knew the number he had used was not assigned to him
Schumacker faces up to 5 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and supervised release of up to 3 years. He will be sentenced after the 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.
Biddeford Man Sentenced to Fifteen Years on Robbery and Firearm 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 Walter Heathcote, 26, of Biddeford, Maine was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court by Chief Judge Nancy Torresen to 15 years in prison and five years of supervised release for interference with commerce by robbery and possession of a firearm by a felon. Heathcote pleaded guilty to the charges on December 18, 2014.
Court records reveal that on December 2, 2013, Heathcote was the getaway driver for Charles Reed III and Ryan Forrest who robbed at gunpoint the Family Dollar Store in Biddeford.
As a result of prior convictions, Heathcote was subject to an enhanced sentence as an armed career criminal requiring a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison.
The investigation was conducted by the Biddeford Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Portland Man Sentenced to over Nine Years for Drug Trafficking and 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 David Jones, 30, of Portland, Maine, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge George Z. Singal to 110 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release for distributing marijuana and money laundering.
According to court records and proceedings, from August 2011 through October 2013, Jones obtained hundreds of pounds of marijuana from an out-of-state source and distributed it in Maine. In October 2013, agents executing search warrants seized $291,981 from a storage unit Jones rented, $92,104 from an associate’s apartment and $6,278 from the defendant’s residence. Agents also seized two boats, a truck, several motorcycles, two trailers, numerous pieces of electronic recording equipment and jewelry. All the seized cash and items were forfeited. Agents also learned that Jones laundered $177,500 of his drug proceeds through financial transactions involving Gary Prolman, Esq. and $39,000 through transactions involving Michael Paul.
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.
Colorado Man Sentenced to 30 Years for Child Exploitation and Pornography OffensesRead 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 David William Burkman, 31, of Canon City, Colorado, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge George Z. Singal to 30 years in prison and a lifetime of supervised release for sexually exploiting a child and transporting child pornography. Burkman pleaded guilty to the charges on October 20, 2014.
According to court records, in March 2014, Burkman engaged in sexually explicit conduct with a six-year-old girl and took photographs of the conduct. In April, Burkman sent an email message to the undercover email account of a Special Agent with Homeland Security Investigations in Maine. Attached to the email was one of the photographs of the girl. Burkman was arrested in May and a search warrant was executed at his residence. During an interview after his arrest, he admitted engaging in sexual activity with the six-year-old girl, taking photographs of the activity, and sharing the photographs online.
The investigation was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and the Colorado Springs Police Department.
Portland Woman Pleads Guilty to Mail and Wire FraudRead 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 Beth M. Rogers, 45, of Portland, Maine, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to mail and wire fraud.
Court records show that Rogers operated TravelWise Cruises & Tours, a travel agency in Saco. Beginning in late 2011, Rogers began taking client money without making travel reservations for the clients who had provided the funds. She instead used the money to pay for the travel of other individuals who had booked travel through TravelWise. She misapplied money from more than 50 clients in this fashion until mid-2012, when her scheme was discovered.
Rogers faces up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. She will also be required to pay full restitution to her victims. She will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.
The investigation was conducted by the Saco Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
New Hampshire Man Indicted on Domestic Violence and Firearm Charges Arising Out of Saco Home InvasionRead 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 Gregory Owens, 58, of Londonderry, New Hampshire, was indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury in Portland and charged with interstate domestic violence and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence in connection with a home invasion shooting in Saco, Maine on December 18, 2014.
According to court records, on that date, Owens drove from New Hampshire to Maine intending to kill his wife who was an overnight guest at the home of friends living in Saco. During the home invasion, Owens shot his wife and the male home owner with a 9mm pistol. Both survived their injuries.
Owens faces up to 20 years in prison on the interstate domestic violence charge and no less than ten years and up to life on the firearm charge, which must be served consecutively. He also faces a $250,000 fine on each count.
The investigation is being conducted by the Saco Police Department; the Maine and New Hampshire State Police; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
An indictment is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed to be innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
Augusta Man Sentenced to Three Months on Mail and Money Order Theft 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 Jason K. Stockmar, 29, of Augusta, Maine, was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court by Judge John A. Woodcock Jr. to three months in prison and one year of supervised release for stealing mail and postal money orders while employed by the United States Postal Service (USPS). He was also ordered to pay $3,160 in restitution. Stockmar pleaded guilty on August 18, 2014.
According to court records, Stockmar was hired by USPS in 2011. He was the officer in charge of the East Vassalboro, Maine Post Office between about December 1, 2012, and April 21, 2013, when he stole about 25 to 30 pieces of customer mail containing cash, checks and gift cards. He also took 20 blank postal money orders from a post office safe and attempted to purchase gold with them.
The case was investigated by the USPS Office of the Inspector General and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
Rockport Dentist Settles Federal Health Care Fraud ComplaintRead the Press Release
Contact: Andrew K. Lizotte
Assistant United States Attorney
Tel: (207) 780-3257Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced that Dr. Daniel P. Schecter, a dentist who provided services in Rockport, Maine, has paid $484,744.80 to settle claims involving improper billing to MaineCare (Maine’s Medicaid program).
After an investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the Maine Attorney General’s Office throughout which Dr. Schecter cooperated, the United States and the State of Maine filed a civil complaint seeking monetary damages against Dr. Schecter alleging that he violated the federal False Claims Act from January 1, 2009 through November 19, 2012, by improperly billing MaineCare for services rendered without medical necessity and proper supporting documentation, for unsubstantiated tooth extractions and for narcotics prescribed without proper justification. The settlement amount represents the amount of monies improperly billed by Dr. Schecter and held in suspension by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services as a result of the investigation.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Office of Inspector General, and the Attorney General’s Office of the State of Maine.
Portland Man Sentenced to Almost 15 Years on Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
Contact: David B. Joyce
Assistant United States Attorney
Tel: (207) 780-3257Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced that George Noonan, 51, of Portland, Maine, was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court by Judge George Z. Singal to 176 months in prison and 8 years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute cocaine and distribution of cocaine. Noonan pleaded guilty on November 19, 2014.
According to court records, between early 2010 and June 2013, Noonan and others acquired cocaine in Massachusetts and distributed over 1,200 grams of it in the Portland area. Noonan was subject to an enhanced sentence as a career offender because this conviction was his third felony drug trafficking conviction.
This case was investigated by the Southern Maine Gang Task Force, which is comprised of agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations; and the Portland and Biddeford Police Departments. The Maine Drug Enforcement Agency also participated in the investigation.
Pennsylvania Man Sentenced to Five Years of Probation for Failing to Pay Child SupportRead 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 James Christopher Blyler, 38, of Hanover Pennsylvania, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge D. Brock Hornby to five years of probation for failing to pay child support. He was also ordered to pay $71,252.87 in restitution representing his total arrearage to date. Blyler was arrested on October 6, 2014 and has been detained since then. He pled guilty on October 28, 2014.
According to court documents, on April 20, 2004, Blyler was ordered by a Maine district court to pay $165 per week toward the support of his child until the child reached the age of 18 in 2017. Shortly after the order issued, Blyler left Maine to live in other states including Texas, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. In May of 2010, Blyler pleaded guilty to failing to pay child support and was sentenced to three months in prison and one year of supervised release.
Blyler’s probation conditions require him to pay his restitution obligation and court-ordered child support. In explaining the sentence, Judge Hornby observed that Blyler had been detained for five months, explained that the statutory purposes of criminal punishment include getting defendants to pay restitution and getting parents to pay child support. Judge Hornby admonished Blyler to take the opportunity to make things right and warned him that if he violated probation he would go to prison.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General and the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, Maine Child Support: Division of Support Enforcement & Recovery.
Gorham Man Sentenced to Six Years in Prison for Receiving 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 John Whittenburg, 62, of Gorham, Maine, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge Nancy Torresen to six years in prison and six years of supervised release for receiving child pornography. Whittenburg pleaded guilty to the charge on November 21, 2014.
According to court records, in April 2012, investigators looking into the sharing of child pornography over the internet interviewed Whittenburg at his home in Buxton. Whittenburg admitted that he had downloaded child pornography and consented to a search of his residence. Investigators found numerous child pornography files stored on his electronic equipment, including a video file depicting a minor female engaged in sexual activity that he had downloaded in October 2011 using a peer-to-peer file-sharing program.
The investigation was conducted by the Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit and the U.S. Secret Service.
Gardiner Man Sentenced to 3 Years for Pharmacy RobberyRead 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 Robert Richard, 26, of Gardiner, Maine, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge D. Brock Hornby to 3 years in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release and ordered to pay full restitution for pharmacy robbery. Richard pleaded guilty on October 21, 2014.
Court records reveal that on November 28, 2013 (Thanksgiving Day) Richard entered the Rite Aid pharmacy in Bridgton, Maine wearing a hooded sweatshirt, sunglasses, and a bandana, and handed the pharmacist a note reading, “All your oxycodone now!” The pharmacist handed Richard a bag containing oxycodone pills and Richard absconded in a car with a concealed license plate.
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bridgton Police Department, with additional assistance provided by the Augusta and Gardiner Police Departments, and the Kennebec and Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Departments.
Former Brunswick Man Sentenced to Almost 17 Years on Drug ChargeRead 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 Garry Collins, 46, formerly of Brunswick, Maine, was sentenced on February 26, 2015 in U.S. District Court by Judge D. Brock Hornby to 200 months in prison and eight years of supervised release for possessing with intent to distribute more than 28 grams of cocaine base, or crack cocaine. Collins pleaded guilty on October 1, 2014.
According to evidence presented at the plea and sentencing hearings, on June 3, 2013, Collins and others packaged crack cocaine for distribution at a Portland hotel. The next day, he was found by Portland Police officers with just under 60 grams of crack cocaine and arrested.
Based on prior convictions for drug trafficking and criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon, Collins was subject to an enhanced sentence as a career offender.
The investigation was conducted by the Portland Police Department, the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
New York Man Sentenced to 2 Years for Passing Counterfeit CurrencyRead 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 Andrew Cupidore, 21, of New York, New York, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge D. Brock Hornby to 2 years in prison for passing counterfeit U.S currency. Cupidore pleaded guilty on August 18, 2014.
According to court records, on April 21, 2014, a police officer patrolling the Maine Mall in South Portland located four female minors from New York who were using counterfeit $100 bills to pay for purchases in the mall. The officer seized over $1000 in counterfeit $100 bills from the minors. The investigation revealed that Cupidore gave the minors the counterfeit bills and told them to pass them in the mall and to return change from the transactions to him. Officers located Cupidore hiding in a mall restroom and seized nine counterfeit $100 bills from him.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Secret Service, the South Portland Police Department and the Seabrook and Newington, New Hampshire Police Departments.
Gorham Man Sentenced to Almost 6 years on Drug Trafficking and Firearms ChargesRead 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 Richard Magee, 58, of Gorham, Maine, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge George Z. Singal to 70 months in prison to be followed by 3 years of supervised release for distributing cocaine and possessing firearms after having been convicted of a felony. Magee pleaded guilty to these offenses on October 29, 2014.
In August and September 2013, agents with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) learned that Magee was acquiring cocaine from an out of state source and distributing it in Maine. In October 2013, agents executed a search warrant at Magee’s residence and found a cocaine processing station in his basement that was used to add a cutting agent to the cocaine and “re-rock” it. Agents also seized five firearms from his bedroom.
This case results from a joint investigation conducted by DEA, 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.
Former Windham Couple Sentenced on Firearms 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 Theodore “Ted” Thomes, 56, and his wife, Renee Thomes, 52, both formerly of Windham, Maine, and now of St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, were sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge D. Brock Hornby on firearms charges. Ted Thomes was sentenced to 27 months in prison and three years of supervised release for being a felon in possession of firearms. Renee Thomes was sentenced to 30 days in prison and three years of supervised release for illegally transferring those firearms to an out-of-state resident. Ted and Renee Thomes pleaded guilty on September 30 and October 1, 2014, respectively.
According to evidence presented at the plea and sentencing hearings, in 2011, the couple stole several handguns belonging to a Windham neighbor for whom they were serving as caretakers. In December 2011, Ted Thomes, a convicted felon who had been convicted in Maine in 2009 for being a felon in possession of firearms, took the stolen handguns to the home of another neighbor for safekeeping. In June 2012, Renee Thomes retrieved the stolen handguns and illegally gave them to a New Hampshire auctioneer to be sold. The firearms were auctioned in July 2012 and the couple received about $11,000 in sales proceeds.
In imposing the 27-month sentence on Ted Thomes, Judge Hornby noted the need to promote respect for the law given Ted Thomes’ 2009 conviction for the same crime. Renee Thomes was sentenced to a term in prison because she sent a letter to the Court containing several material false statements in anticipation of her sentencing.
The investigation was conducted by the Windham Police Department; the Maine Attorney General’s Office; and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.Lebanon Man Sentenced to 2½ Years for Illegal Possession of a FirearmRead 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 Lawrence Young, 54, of Lebanon, Maine, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge D. Brock Hornby to 2½ years in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Young pleaded guilty on September 30, 2014.
According to court records, on May 1, 2014, Young was discovered hunting with a 16-gauge shotgun in the Acton, Maine area. Young was prohibited from possessing firearms based on prior felony convictions for illegally possessing a firearm in 2013 and violating conditions of release in 2011.
The investigation was conducted by the Maine State Police; the Maine Warden Service; and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.Monroe Woman Sentenced to 6½ Years for Firearm and Drug ConvictionsRead the Press Release
Contact: Andrew McCormack
Assistant United States Attorney
Tel: (207) 945-0373Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced that Darlene Ford, 59, of Monroe, was sentenced in U.S. District Court by Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. to 6½ years in prison, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release, for conspiring to manufacture marijuana, maintaining a drug involved premises, and aiding and abetting a felon in possession of a firearm. Ford was found guilty after a jury trial on February 6, 2014.
Court proceedings revealed that in November 2011 a search warrant was executed at the defendant’s home in Monroe where agents found a large and sophisticated indoor marijuana growing operation and two rifles. Trial evidence revealed that the defendant and other family members conspired to grow hundreds of marijuana plants at the residence. The defendant also illegally aided and abetted her husband, a convicted felon, to possess the two rifles found during the search of her home.
The investigation was conducted by the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Waldo County Sheriff’s Office and the Maine State Police.
Westbrook Woman Pleads Guilty to 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, age 61, of Westbrook, Maine, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to adulterating a food item, namely a bottle of fish oil capsules, with intent to defraud.
According to court documents, 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. One week later, the bottle of fish oil capsules was resold to another customer. That customer discovered that the bottle contained other items in addition to fish oil, and returned the bottle to the pharmacy. The pharmacy determined that some of the fish oil capsules had been removed and replaced with stool softener capsules and Dilantin, a prescription anti-seizure medication. Jordan told investigators that she returned the bottle of fish oil capsules after substituting some of the fish oil with other drugs in her home so that she could get a full refund.
Jordan faces up to three years in jail and a $250,000 fine. She will be sentenced after completion of a pre-sentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.
This case was investigated by the Food and Drug Administration, Office of Inspector General.
Augusta Man Pleads Guilty to Pharmacy Robbery ChargeRead 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 Lance M. Szady, 26, of Augusta, Maine pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to pharmacy robbery.
Court records show that on September 2, 2014, Dominic J. Pomerleau robbed the Rite Aid Pharmacy located on Hospital Street in Augusta, Maine. He approached the pharmacy counter with a note that demanded oxycodone and absconded with three bottles of oxycodone. Szady had driven Pomerleau to the pharmacy and waited for Pomerleau while Pomerleau committed the robbery. Szady drove Pomerleau and a female passenger, Nicole A. Breton, to Breton’s residence in Chelsea. All three spent the night at that residence and they consumed many of the pills that were taken in the robbery. Pomerleau pleaded guilty on January 23, 2015, to attempted pharmacy robbery and pharmacy robbery. On February 9, 2015, Breton pleaded guilty to being an accessory after the fact to pharmacy robbery.
Szady faces up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and restitution. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.
The investigation was conducted by the Augusta Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Chelsea Woman Pleads Guilty to Being an Accessory After the Fact to a 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 Nicole A. Breton, 21, of Chelsea, Maine pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to being an accessory after the fact to a pharmacy robbery. An accessory after the fact is a person who, knowing that an offense against the United States has been committed, comforts or assists the offender in order to hinder or prevent his apprehension, trial or punishment.
Court records show that on September 2, 2014, Dominic J. Pomerleau robbed the Rite Aid Pharmacy located on Hospital Street in Augusta, Maine. He approached the pharmacy counter with a note that demanded oxycodone and absconded with three bottles of oxycodone. Breton was waiting for Pomerleau in a getaway car. She emptied the pills from the bottles and threw the empty bottles and caps out of the car window. Pomerleau, Breton, and the driver of the car fled to Breton’s residence where they spent the night consuming many of the stolen oxycodone pills. Pomerleau pled guilty to pharmacy robbery on January 23, 2015 and awaits sentencing.
Breton faces up to 10 years in prison, a $125,000 fine and restitution. She will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.
The investigation was conducted by the Augusta Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Pennsylvania Man Sentenced to Five Years of Probation for Trafficking in Counterfeit GoodsRead 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 Kurnik, 26, of York, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge George Z. Singal to five years of probation for conspiring to traffic in counterfeit goods. He was also ordered to pay $25,000 in restitution. Kurnik pled guilty to the offense on October 22, 2014.
According to court records, Kurnik regularly purchased what purported to be OtterBox cell phone cases from suppliers in China and resold them to individuals in the United States. These individuals in turn often sold the cases on eBay and other online sites. One of the resellers, who lived in Maine, told Kurnik in May 2013 that he had been contacted by OtterBox and told that he was going to be sued for selling counterfeit cases on eBay.
Despite being told of the OtterBox lawsuit, Kurnik continued to buy the phone cases from China and resell them in the United States. In December 2013, he sent a shipment of counterfeit cases to the reseller in Maine, who by that point was cooperating with law enforcement. A search warrant was executed at a warehouse in Manchester, Pennsylvania used by Kurnik and agents seized about 6,700 counterfeit OtterBox cases. Kurnik admitted in an interview that by May 2013 he knew the cases he was selling were counterfeit, but he continued buying cases from China to resell in the United States until December 2013.
The investigation was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.
New York and California Men Plead Guilty to Access Device FraudRead 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 Jervis
A. Hillaire, 25, of Menifee, California, and Gyadeen P. Ramdihall, 27, of Rosedale, New York,
pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to conspiracy to commit access device fraud. An access
device is any card or account number that can be used to obtain money, goods, services, or any
other thing of value.According to court documents, on about September 4, 2013, Ramdihall, Hillaire 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 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.The defendants face up to five years in prison, a $250,000 fine and full restitution. They
will be sentenced after the completion of presentence investigation reports by the U.S. Probation
Office.The investigation was conducted by the United States Secret Service, the Kittery and
Biddeford Police Departments and the Ohio State Police.Norridgewock Man Sentenced to 65 Years for Child Exploitation and PornographyRead the Press Release
Patrik Arsenault, 28, was sentenced in U.S. District Court by Judge John A. Woodcock Jr. to 65 years in prison, to be followed by a lifetime of supervised release for sexual exploitation of a minor and transportation, receipt and possession of child pornography U.S. Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced. Arsenault pleaded guilty on July 8, 2014.
According to court records, in June and July of 2013, the defendant, a former special education teacher, sexually abused three minors and recorded images and videos the abuse. The defendant then sent recordings of the abuse, as well as other images of child pornography, to several e-mail trading partners. The defendant also received images of child pornography from his trading partners. On Aug. 21, 2013, agents seized a hard drive during the execution of a search warrant at the defendant’s residence. A forensic examination revealed videos and images of the defendant’s abuse of the minors and over 7,500 images and 250 videos depicting child pornography.
“Despicable crimes like this rob our children of their innocence,” said Special Agent in Charge Bruce Foucart of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Boston. “We entrust teachers to serve as role models for our children and safeguard their welfare. As this sentence makes clear, when that trust is violated, there will be severe consequences. This case should also serve as a stern warning to those who mistakenly believe cyberspace affords them anonymity on the Internet to sexually exploit children with impunity.”
“It was his hard work and diligence in identifying the defendant after his activity had been discovered that brought him to justice,” said U.S. Attorney Delahanty on the work of HSI Special Agent Anthony Castellanos. “These cases are very difficult because of the subject matter, but also because of the necessity to link the defendant to the disturbing images and on-line conduct. Special Agent Castellanos’s continued persistence has limited the exposure of the minors to further exploitation. People who engage in this conduct should expect to receive very lengthy sentences.”
The investigation was conducted jointly by HSI, the Maine State Police and the Computer Crimes Unit of the Maine State Police. 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.
Blaine Man Pleads Guilty to Bath Salts Distribution ConspiracyRead 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 Nate Brewer, 34, of Blaine, Maine, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute bath salts.According to court records, between about January 2012 and June 2014, Brewer conspired with others in Aroostook County to obtain and distribute bath salts. Specifically, Brewer helped purchase bath salts from China for personal use and to sell to other conspirators. He also helped to raise money to place bulk orders for multiple conspirators in order to receive discounted pricing.
The defendant faces up to 20 year in prison and a $1,000,000 fine. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency with assistance from the Aroostook County Sheriff’s Department and the United State Postal Inspection Service.
Augusta Man Pleads Guilty to Pharmacy Robbery ChargesRead 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 Dominic J. Pomerleau, 21, of Augusta, Maine pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to pharmacy robbery and attempted pharmacy robbery charges.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. 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 the 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.
Pomerleau faces up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and restitution on each charge. The defendant will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.
The investigation was conducted by the Augusta Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Bangor Resident Sentenced to Six Years in Prison for Bath Salt Distribution ConspiracyRead 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 Gina
Nelson, 31, of Bradley, Maine was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court by Judge John A.
Woodcock, Jr. to 72 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release for conspiracy to possess
with the intent to distribute and to distribute MDPV, a chemical compound commonly referred to
as “bath salts” or “monkey dust.”According to court records, between April and December 2011, the defendant illegally
distributed MDPV in Penobscot County and elsewhere. The defendant distributed MDPV to
others who were using and selling the drug in the Bangor area. In November 2011, following the
search of a co-conspirator’s residence in Bangor and the seizure of a large amount of MDPV, the
defendant assisted another person in removing from the residence MDPV that the police had not
found during their search. This additional quantity of MDPV was eventually distributed to
another person, who was later caught by law enforcement. Nelson is one of eighteen defendants
who pleaded guilty to conspiring with Ryan Ellis and others to distribute the drug. Ellis
previously pleaded guilty and awaits sentencing.
The case was investigated by the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency with assistance from
the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.Westbrook Man Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography and Extortionate Threats 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
Michael Van Eekhout, 51, of Westbrook, Maine, pled guilty today in U.S. District Court to
transporting child pornography and transmitting an extortionate threat.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 defendant faces a sentence of between five and 20 years in prison, a fine of up to
$250,000, and supervised release of up to life on the child pornography charge. He faces a
sentence of up to 2 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and supervised release of up to 1
year on the threat charge. 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.Vermont Man Sentenced to over Two Years for Wire FraudRead the Press Release
Contact: Gail Fisk Malone
Assistant United States Attorney
Tel: (207) 945-0373Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced that Craig
Sanborn, age 64, of Maidstone, Vermont, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge
John A. Woodcock, Jr. to 28 months in prison for wire fraud. He was also ordered to pay
$300,000 in restitution, a $7,500 fine and to serve three years of supervised release. The sentence
is to be served consecutively to two 10-year sentences Sanborn is currently serving in New
Hampshire state prison for manslaughter associated with a fatal explosion at a Colebrook
ammunition-making facility in May 2010. Sanborn was convicted after a week-long jury trial on
April 25, 2014.Court documents and trial testimony reveal that in 2005, Sanborn received a $300,000
federally-funded Community Development Block Grant to renovate the former rail terminal in
Brownville, Maine, into a facility to manufacture ammunition for black powder rifles. The grant
entitled him to reimbursement for machinery purchases and certain other expenses, provided he
had invested $300,000 of his own funds towards the project. The evidence showed that he
submitted false invoices to the Town of Brownville and received grant reimbursement to which
he was not entitled.The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Housing and Urban Development Office of
Inspector General, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and the Brownville
Police Department.Verona Island Man Pleads Guilty to Firearm ChargeRead 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 Oscar
Nunez, 28, of Verona Island, Maine, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to unlawful
possession of a firearm.Court records reveal that on July 23, 2012, investigators found a High Point .380 caliber
semi-automatic handgun during the execution of a search warrant at the defendant’s Verona
Island residence. A Maine State Police Crime Lab forensic analyst found the defendant’s DNA
on the handgun. The defendant was prohibited from possessing the handgun because of a prior
felony conviction in New York for the criminal sale of a controlled substance.Nunez 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 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and
Explosives, the Maine State Fire Marshal’s Office, the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, the
Maine State Police as well as the Hancock and Penobscot County Sheriff Departments.Portland Man Pleads Guilty to 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, pled guilty today in U.S. District Court to transportation
and possession of child pornography.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.
Thea faces between five and 20 years in prison on the transportation count and up to 20
years on the possession count. He also faces a fine of up to $250,000, and supervised release of
up to life on each count. 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, with the assistance of the South Portland Police Department.Bangor Resident Sentenced to over Three Years for Bath Salt Distribution ConspiracyRead 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
Elizabeth Mikotowicz, 26, Bangor, Maine was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Bangor
to 37 months in prison and three years of supervised release for conspiracy to possess with the
intent to distribute and to distribute MDPV, a chemical compound commonly referred to as “bath
salts” or “monkey dust.” Mikotowicz pleaded guilty to the charge on May 12, 2014.According to court records, between April and December 2011, the defendant illegally
distributed MDPV in Penobscot County and elsewhere. The defendant distributed MDPV to
others who were using and selling the drug in the Bangor area. Mikotowicz is one of eighteen
defendants who pleaded guilty to conspiring with Ryan Ellis to distribute the drug. Ellis
previously pleaded guilty and awaits sentencing.
The case was investigated by the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency with assistance from
the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.New Jersey Man Sentenced to Two Years for ExtortionRead the Press Release
Contact: Gail Fisk Malone
Assistant United States Attorney
Tel: (207) 945-0373Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced that Patrick
Curley, 51, of Passaic, New Jersey, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to two years in
prison and one year of supervised release for extortion. He pled guilty on April 7, 2013.According to court documents, in March 2010, Curley applied on-line for a job with
Vescom, a Hampden, Maine-based security firm. On April 21, 2010, Curley met Vescom’s
Senior Vice President for a job interview in New York. In e-mails and a voice message left after
the interview, he expressed ongoing interest in the job. On April 27, however, he e-mailed
Vescom’s Senior Vice President and falsely accused her of sexual harassment and discrimination
and threatened to sue. In the months that followed, both he and an attorney representing him
contacted Vescom employees and staff counsel seeking $130,000 to settle the claims and
threatening to sue and take his claims to the media if they could not reach a financial
settlement. Curley’s claims of sexual harassment and discrimination were false and were
intended to extort money from Vescom.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.Fourteen Charged in Connection with Lewiston Drug ArrestsRead the Press Release
Contact: David B. Joyce
Assistant United States Attorney
Tel: (207) 780-3257Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced that a
federal grand jury sitting in Portland indicted Tasheem Carter, 29, of Far Rockaway, New York
and Lewiston, Maine, for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and oxycodone and
Christian Dent, 31, of Far Rockaway and Lewiston, for conspiracy to distribute 28 grams or
more of cocaine base, possession with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base and
being a felon in possession of a firearm. Also charged were Sabree Branch, 23, of Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania and Lewiston, for use of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime,
possession of cocaine base, and unlawful use of a communication facility; Michael Boney, 28,
of Far Rockaway and Auburn, Maine, for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and
cocaine base; Isar Coleman, 31, of Lewiston, for conspiracy to distribute cocaine base; Angela
Crabtree, 32, of Auburn, for possession with intent to distribute cocaine base; Katelynn
Dubois, 21, of Wales, Maine, for conspiracy to distribute oxycodone; Lee Eirby, 66, of
Lewiston, for maintaining a drug-involved premises; Isaac Fofie, 26, of New Sharon, Maine, for
conspiracy to distribute heroin and distribution of heroin; Kourtney Francoeur, 21, of
Lewiston, for conspiracy to distribute cocaine base; Jamel Hamilton, of Far Rockaway, for
conspiracy to distribute heroin; Willie Jackson, 32, of Lewiston, for possession with intent to
distribute cocaine base; Rebecca Thompson, 33, of Lewiston, for conspiracy to distribute
cocaine base; and Barney Whitfield, 33, of Lewiston, for possession with intent to distribute
cocaine base and heroin.According to court records, the charges arise out of the distribution of cocaine and heroin
in the greater Lewiston/Auburn area. This morning, federal, state and local agents arrested
Branch, Coleman, Crabtree, Dubois, Eirby, Fofie, Francoeur, Hamilton, Jackson, Thompson and
Whitfield while executing warrants. Carter, Dent and Boney were all previously arrested on
criminal complaints. The defendants arrested today will make their initial appearances in the
U.S. District Court in Portland today.Dent faces between five and 40 years in prison, a $4,000,000 fine and supervised release
for life on the drug charge or between 10 years and life and an $8,000,000 fine if he has a prior
felony drug conviction. On the gun charge, Dent also faces up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up
to $250,000 and three years of supervised release. Branch faces between five years and life, a
fine of $250,000 and five years of supervised release on the gun charge, up to 1 year, a $100,000
fine and up to 1 year of supervised release on the possession charge and up to 4 years, a
$250,000 fine and supervised release of up to one year on the communication facility charge.
Eirby faces up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. The
other defendants face up to 20 years in prison, a $1,000,000 fine and supervised release for life.The case was investigated by the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency; the Lewiston and
Auburn Police Departments; the Maine State Police; and the Southern Maine Gang Task Force
comprised of agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Bureau of
Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; U.S.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations; and the Portland
and Biddeford Police Departments.An indictment or criminal complaint is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed
innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.Press Alert: On Tuesday, January 20, 2015, at 10:30a.m, U.S. Attorney Delahanty,
Lewiston Police Chief Michael Bussiere and Androscoggin County District Attorney Andrew
Robinson will hold a press conference regarding these cases at the Lewiston Police Department,
171 Park Street, Lewiston, Maine. Media members should arrive by 10:20 a.m. and will be
asked to provide identification credentials.Fourteen Charged in Connection with Lewiston Drug ArrestsRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury in sitting in Portland indicted Tasheem Carter, 29, of Far Rockaway, New York, and Lewiston, Maine, for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and oxycodone and Christian Dent, 31, of Far Rockaway and Lewiston, for conspiracy to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base, possession with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base and being a felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced today.
Also charged were Sabree Branch, 23, of Philadelphia and Lewiston, for use of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, possession of cocaine base and unlawful use of a communication facility; Michael Boney, 28, of Far Rockaway and Auburn, Maine, for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base; Isar Coleman, 31, of Lewiston, for conspiracy to distribute cocaine base; Angela Crabtree, 32, of Auburn, for possession with intent to distribute cocaine base; Katelynn Dubois, 21, of Wales, Maine, for conspiracy to distribute oxycodone; Lee Eirby, 66, of Lewiston, for maintaining a drug-involved premises; Isaac Fofie, 26, of New Sharon, Maine, for conspiracy to distribute heroin and distribution of heroin; Kourtney Francoeur, 21, of Lewiston, for conspiracy to distribute cocaine base; Jamel Hamilton, of Far Rockaway, for conspiracy to distribute heroin; Willie Jackson, 32, of Lewiston, for possession with intent to distribute cocaine base; Rebecca Thompson, 33, of Lewiston, for conspiracy to distribute cocaine base; and Barney Whitfield, 33, of Lewiston, for possession with intent to distribute cocaine base and heroin.
According to court records, the charges arise out of the distribution of cocaine and heroin in the greater Lewiston and Auburn area. This morning, federal, state and local agents arrested Branch, Coleman, Crabtree, Dubois, Eirby, Fofie, Francoeur, Hamilton, Jackson, Thompson and Whitfield while executing warrants. Carter, Dent and Boney were all previously arrested on criminal complaints. The defendants arrested today will make their initial appearances in the U.S. District Court in Portland today.
Dent faces between five and 40 years in prison, a $4 million fine and supervised release for life on the drug charge or between 10 years and life in prison and an $8 million fine if he has a prior felony drug conviction. On the gun charge, Dent also faces up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000 and three years of supervised release. For the gun charge, Branch faces between five years and life in prison, a fine of $250,000 and five years of supervised release; for the possession charge, Branch faces up to one year in prison, a $100,000 fine and up to one year of supervised release; and for the communication facility charge, faces up to four years in prison, a $250,000 fine and supervised release of up to one year. Eirby faces up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release for maintaining a drug-involved premises. The other defendants face up to 20 years in prison, a $1 million fine and supervised release for life.
The case was investigated by the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, the Lewiston and Auburn Police Departments, the Maine State Police, the Southern Maine Gang Task Force comprised of agents and officers from the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and the Portland and Biddeford Police Departments.
An indictment or criminal complaint is merely an accusation and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
On Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2015, at 10:30 a.m, U.S. Attorney Delahanty, Chief Michael Bussiere for the Lewiston Police and District Attorney Andrew Robinson for Androscoggin County will hold a press conference regarding these cases at the Lewiston Police Department at 171 Park Street in Lewiston. Media members should arrive by 10:20 a.m., and will be asked to provide identification credentials.
Former Canaan Man Pleads Guilty to Cocaine and Oxycodone Distribution ConspiracyRead 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 Frank
Curtis, 35, formerly of Canaan, Maine pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to conspiracy
to possess with the intent to distribute and to distribute cocaine and oxycodone.According to court records, between January 2010 and March 2012, Curtis conspired
with Maurice McCray, William Waters and others in Waterville, Maine and surrounding
communities to obtain cocaine and oxycodone from out-of-state dealers, bring it to Central
Maine and distribute it.
The defendant faces up to 20 year in prison and a $1,000,000 fine. He will be sentenced
after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Maine
Drug Enforcement Agency with assistance from the Waterville Police Department.Connecticut Man Sentenced to over 22 Years for Oxycodone ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Contact: David B. Joyce
Assistant United States Attorney
Tel: (207) 780-3257Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced today that
Barry Diaz, 32, of Stamford, Connecticut, was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court by
Judge John A. Woodcock, to 22½ years in prison to be followed by 6 years of supervised release
for conspiracy to distribute oxycodone and unlawful use of a telephone. Diaz pleaded guilty to
the charges on December 20, 2013.According to Court documents, Diaz and others acquired oxycodone pills outside of
Maine. Some of these pills were obtained from people in Connecticut who diverted lawfully
issued oxycodone prescriptions. Others were obtained in bulk from California and elsewhere.
The pills were transported to Maine by Diaz or other conspirators working with him and were
given to street level dealers for distribution in Kennebec County and elsewhere. During the
investigation, law enforcement officers seized more than 600 30-mg oxycodone pills from
members of the conspiracy.
According to the evidence presented at the trial of Diaz’s co-defendant, Mark Razo, Diaz
and Razo operated the interstate drug conspiracy while Razo was serving a drug sentence in a
California state prison. Razo used contraband cellular telephones from inside the prison to
arrange transactions, recruit couriers and cause the transport of drugs across the United
States. Diaz was Razo’s point person for distribution of drugs across the country. A four pound
methamphetamine shipment that was seized in Iowa was among the drug shipments orchestrated
by Diaz and Razo.This case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance
from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the
Kennebec County Sheriff’s Office, the Southeast Iowa Drug Task Force, the Wapello County
(Iowa) Sheriff’s Office, investigators from the California Department of Corrections and
Rehabilitation, the Stamford (Connecticut) Police Department, the Augusta (Maine) Police
Department, and the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency. The investigation was part of 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.Former Bucksport Resident Sentenced to 45 Months for Bath Salt Distribution ConspiracyRead 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 April
Kane, 29, formerly of Bucksport, Maine was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge
John A. Woodcock, Jr. to 45 months in prison and three years of supervised release for
conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and to distribute MDPV, a chemical compound
commonly referred to as “bath salts” or “monkey dust.”According to court records, between April and December 2011, the defendant illegally
distributed MDPV in Penobscot County and elsewhere. The defendant distributed MDPV to
others who were using and selling the drug in the Bangor area. On November 3, 2011, she was
arrested by the Veazie Police Department after she was found in possession of over 180 grams of
MDPV, prescription drugs, marijuana, cash and a stun gun. Kane is one of eighteen defendants
who pleaded guilty to conspiring with Ryan Ellis to distribute the drug. Ellis previously pleaded
guilty and awaits sentencing.
The case was investigated by the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency with assistance from
the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Veazie Police Department.Missouri Man Sentenced to Nearly Four Years on Interstate Stalking ChargeRead 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
William McBroom-Stees, 43, of Springfield, Missouri was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District
Court by Chief Judge Nancy Torresen to 46 months in prison and three years of supervised
release for interstate stalking. McBroom-Stees pleaded guilty to the charge on September 23,
2014.Court records reveal between November 9 and November 21, 2013, McBroom-Stees
made threatening telephone calls from Missouri to his ex-girlfriend and mother of his child while
she was driving from Illinois to Rockland, Maine, where she was relocating. In the calls and text
messages, McBroom-Stees threatened to kill and harm her, her immediate family, and others.
On November 13, McBroom-Stees threatened that if she did not return to Missouri by their
child’s birthday, he would “start the worst f***ing bloodbath in America” and dared the police to
come after him. That call was recorded by the victim with the help of a Knox County Sheriff’s
Office detective. Phone records revealed McBroom-Stees placed hundreds of calls and sent
numerous text messages to the victim, many of which were threatening, causing substantial
emotional distress to the victim and her family.
The investigation was conducted by the Knox County Sheriff’s Office, the Rockland
Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.Presque Isle Man Sentenced to Seven Years on Firearm ChargeRead 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 Wayne
E. Boulier, Jr., 34, of Presque Isle, Maine, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Chief
Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. to seven years in prison to be followed by three years of
supervised release for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Boulier pleaded guilty to the
charge on February 24, 2014.Court records reveal that on the evening of April 6, 2013, the defendant went to a bar in
Presque Isle. A bouncer at the pub approached the defendant, told him that he needed to leave
and escorted him to the door. As the defendant fell onto the sidewalk outside, he pulled up his
shirt and pulled out a loaded pistol. A bar patron and a second bouncer restrained the defendant
and took the pistol from him. Boulier was prohibited from possessing firearms because he had
12 prior state felony convictions.The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms &
Explosives, the Presque Isle Police Department and the Maine State Police.New Hampshire Man Arrested on Domestic Violence and Firearm Charges Arising Out of Saco Home InvasionRead the Press Release
Contact: Darcie N. McElwee
Assistant United States Attorney
Tel: (207) 780-3257Portland, Maine: PRESS ALERT: Gregory Owens, 58, of Londonderry, New Hampshire, was arrested yesterday on charges filed in U.S. District Court of interstate domestic violence and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence in connection with a home invasion shooting on December 18, 2014, at a residence in Saco, Maine. Owens will make his initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Portland today at 11:00 a.m.
Four Charged in Connection with Portland Crack Cocaine ArrestsRead 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 Marco
Gordon, a/k/a “D,” a/k/a “Detroit,” 34, of Detroit, Michigan; William Weston, a/k/a “Wild,”
34, of Portland; Russell Gordon, a/k/a “Murder,” a/k/a “M1,” a/k/a “Black,” a/k/a “B,” 31,
of Ansonia, Connecticut and Portland were arrested in Portland today and charged in U.S.
District Court by criminal complaint with possession with intent to distribute cocaine base, also
known as, crack cocaine. Kristi Lowell, 30, of Portland, was also arrested in Portland today and
charged by criminal complaint with maintaining a place to make, distribute and use controlled
substances.According to court records, the charges arise out of the distribution of crack cocaine in
Portland. This morning, federal, state and local agents arrested the four while executing
warrants. The defendants will make their initial appearances in the U.S. District Court in
Portland today.Russell Gordon faces between five and 40 years in prison and a $5,000,000 fine. Lowell
faces up to 20 years in prison and a $500,000 fine. The other two defendants face up to 20 years
in prison and a $1,000,000 fine, or up to 30 years in prison and a $2,000,000 fine if they have a
prior felony drug conviction.This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Portland,
Biddeford and Lewiston Police Departments; the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency; the Maine
State Police; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations,
the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and
Explosives. The Portland Police Department Special Reaction Team assisted federal agents with
the entry and arrests.A criminal complaint is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent
unless proven guilty in a court of law.Sedgwick Man Pleads Guilty to 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, pleaded guilty today in U.S District Court in Bangor to
possession of child pornography.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 faces a minimum of 10 years and up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000
fine. He faces an enhanced sentence because of two prior Maine Superior Court convictions for
unlawful sexual contact. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence
investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.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.James Cameron Sentenced to 15 and 3/4 Years on Child Pornography and Contempt ChargesRead the Press Release
Contact: Donald E. Clark
Gail Fisk Malone
Assistant United States Attorneys
Tel: (207) 780-3257Bangor, Maine: The United States Attorney’s Office announced that James M.
Cameron, 52, formerly of Hallowell, Maine, was sentenced in U.S. District Court by Chief
Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr., to 15 and 3/4 years in prison to be followed by six years of
supervised release. On August 23, 2010, following a six-day bench trial, the defendant was
found guilty by Chief Judge Woodcock of 13 counts of transporting, receiving and possessing
child pornography. Following the conviction, the defendant was jailed. He was indicted on
February 11, 2009.The Indictment arose out of four types of activity that occurred over a 17-month period
between July 2006 and December 2007: (1) the uploading of child pornography images and
videos by the defendant from a computer in his residence to Yahoo! photo albums and briefcases
he created; (2) the sending and receiving of child pornography over Google Hello, a free chat
and file sharing computer program, by the defendant using laptop computers he carried while on
trips and family vacations; (3) the receipt by the defendant of e-mails containing child
pornography; and (4) the possession of child pornography on computers found at his residence.
All of the computers were seized from his residence on December 21, 2007 during the execution
of a search warrant.On March 10, 2011, Chief Judge Woodcock sentenced the defendant to 16 years in prison
and 10 years of supervised release. On August 9, 2011, the 1st Circuit Court of Appeals (“1st
Circuit”) granted the defendant’s motion to be released on bail pending appeal and he was
released on August 11, 2011. On that same date, Chief Judge Woodcock set bail conditions
including that the defendant submit to active GPS location monitoring. On November 14, 2012,
the 1st Circuit reversed the defendant’s convictions on six counts but affirmed his convictions on
the seven remaining counts. As a result, the defendant remained convicted of transporting,
receiving and possessing child pornography.Following 1st Circuit’s decision on the appeal, the defendant cut off his GPS location
monitoring bracelet and fled in violation of the bail order. On December 2, 2012, he was
arrested by United States Marshals in New Mexico and thereafter returned to Maine. On
February 19, 2013, he pled guilty to Criminal Contempt for violating the bail order.From August 1990 until April 2008, the defendant worked as an Assistant Attorney
General for the State of Maine, primarily handling drug prosecutions.At re-sentencing, Chief Judge Woodcock found that the offenses involved 150-300 child
pornography images, that the images depicted prepubescent children, sadistic and other violent
conduct, that the defendant traded the images in order to obtain such images from others, that the
defendant did not accept responsibility for his conduct by waiting to admit his guilt until after he
was convicted and that the defendant obstructed justice when he fled.The Office of the United States Attorney praised the investigation conducted by the
Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit and the United States Marshals Service.Saco Attorney Sentenced to Two Years for Money Laundering ConspiracyRead 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 Gary
Prolman, Esq., 52, of Saco, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge George Z.
Singal to two years in prison and two years of supervised release for conspiracy to launder
$177,500 worth of marijuana trafficking proceeds. Prolman pled guilty on April 29, 2014.According to court records, between 2011 and October 2013, David Jones and others
illegally distributed hundreds of pounds of marijuana in Maine and elsewhere. Between June and
September 2012, Prolman laundered about $177,500 worth of those drug proceeds by: (1) taking
cash from Jones to purchase an interest in Prolman’s sports agency business; (2) illegally
structuring cash deposits and cashier’s check purchases to avoid federal currency reporting
requirements; and (3) using structured cashier’s checks to jointly purchase real estate with Jones
in a transaction where only Prolman’s name appeared on the deed as the owner.Prolman received three separate $50,000 cash installment payments, largely consisting of
low denomination bills delivered in a backpack. When Prolman attempted to deposit more than
$10,000 from the first $50,000 installment into bank accounts he controlled, a bank teller advised
him of the federal currency reporting requirement for deposits exceeding $10,000. Under federal
law, financial institutions that receive more than $10,000 in cash from a customer are required to
report the transaction to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Structuring occurs when a customer
breaks up cash transactions into multiple increments of less than $10,000 to avoid this cash
transaction reporting requirement. Structuring is illegal under federal law and is commonly
associated with the laundering of drug proceeds. After being advised of the reporting
requirement by the bank teller, Prolman structured numerous cash deposits and paid $60,409 to
close the joint real estate purchase using seven structured cashier’s checks.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, and the IRS,
and resulted 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.Lewiston Man Pleads Guilty to Drug Conspiracy 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, 27, of Lewiston, pled guilty yesterday in U.S. District Court to conspiracy to distribute
and possess with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base, also known as crack
cocaine, 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
crack cocaine out of an apartment in Lewiston. Young and other members of the conspiracy
bought crack cocaine and cocaine powder from suppliers in Massachusetts, brought it to Maine,
cooked the powder into crack cocaine, packaged it for distribution, and sold it.
In March of this year, 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 crack cocaine in a dresser drawer in the bedroom. Officers also found a Hi-Point .380 caliber
pistol in the bedroom that Young kept to protect the drug operation.
Young faces a sentence of between 5 and 40 years in prison and a $5,000,000 fine on the
drug conspiracy charge. He faces a sentence of no less than 5 years, to be imposed to run
consecutively to his drug conspiracy sentence, and a $250,000 fine on the firearm charge. He
will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation
Office.
The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and
Explosives; the Lewiston Police Department and the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency.Rockwood Man Pleads Guilty to Tax Evasion and Illegally Selling Lobster ChargesRead the Press Release
Contacts: Julia M. Lipez, Richard W. Murphy
Assistant United States Attorneys
Tel: (207) 780-3257Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced that
Robert Thompson, 53, of Rockwood, Maine pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to
federal income tax evasion and illegally selling lobster charges.Court records reveal that between 2008 and 2011, Thompson was the dock manager for
the Spruce Head Fisherman’s Co-op in South Thomaston, Maine. In that capacity, Thompson
illegally bought lobsters from Co-op members for cash, rather than buying and selling those
lobsters through the Co-op system. Thompson resold the lobsters he bought for cash to J.P.’s
Shellfish, a seafood distributor in Eliot, Maine. Thompson was not a licensed seafood dealer,
making the sales to J.P.’s Shellfish illegal under Maine law. Under the federal Lacey Act, it is
illegal to sell lobsters in violation of state law. Thompson also failed to report his profit from
these side deals as income on his federal income tax return thus evading over $49,000 in income
taxes.Thompson faces up to one year in prison and a $100,000 fine on the Lacey Act charge
and up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine on the tax evasion charge. He will be
sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.The charges are the result of a collaborative investigation conducted by the Internal
Revenue Service; the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Office of Law
Enforcement; and the Knox County Sheriff’s Office.Portland Man Sentenced to over Eight Years for Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
Contact: David B. Joyce
Assistant United States Attorney
Tel: (207) 780-3257Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced that
Matthieu O’Rourke, a/k/a “Tony Angeless,” age 36, of Portland, was sentenced today in U.S.
District Court by Judge D. Brock Hornby to 100 months in prison and three years of supervised
release for bank robbery. O’Rourke pleaded guilty on June 11, 2014.According to court records, on September 27, 2014, O’Rourke entered a Key Bank
branch located in Portland wearing a bright construction vest, sunglasses, a hat and carrying a
hard hat. He walked to a teller window and presented a note stating, in substance: “I’m a crazy
person. No one will be hurt as long as you give me the money out of both drawers.” The teller
complied and gave O’Rourke about $1,280. On October 30, 2013, O’Rourke was arrested in
Rivera Beach, Florida.At the sentencing hearing, O’Rourke was subject to an enhanced sentence as a career
offender. His prior convictions included a 1998 conviction for solicitation to commit murder for
which he was sentenced to eight years in prison.This case was investigated by the Portland Police Department, the Federal Bureau of
Investigation and the United States Marshals Service.Dexter Man Pleads Guilty to 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, pled guilty today in U.S. District Court in Bangor to robbing a
Rite Aid pharmacy in Guilford, Maine.According to court records, on March 10, 2012, Thompson entered the Rite Aid
pharmacy wearing a bandana, 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 $500 worth of
drugs.
The defendant faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. He will be
sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.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.