District of Maine
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Monroe Man Sentenced to 10 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 James
F. Ford, 59, of Monroe, was sentenced in U.S. District Court by Chief Judge John A.
Woodcock, Jr. to 10 years in prison, to be followed by 8 years of supervised release for
conspiracy to manufacture marijuana, manufacturing marijuana, maintaining a drug involved
premises, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Ford was found guilty after a jury trial on
November 21, 2013.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, a
convicted felon, also illegally possessed the two rifles found at the residence.The investigation was conducted by the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, the Bureau of
Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, the Waldo County Sheriff’s Office and the Maine State Police.Buxton Man Pleads Guilty to 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 Buxton, Maine, pled guilty today in U.S. District Court to receiving child
pornography.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.
Whittenburg faces a sentence of no less than 5 years and no more than 20 years in prison,
up to a $250,000 fine and supervised release of up to 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 State Police Computer Crimes Unit and
the U.S. Secret Service.Greenbush Resident Sentenced to over Eight 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 Jessica
Bryden, 22, of Greenbush was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court by Chief Judge John
A. Woodcock, Jr. to 97 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.” Bryden pleaded guilty on April 15, 2014.According to court records, between April and December 2011, the members of the
conspiracy illegally distributed large quantities of MDPV in Penobscot, Aroostook and Knox
counties. The defendant packaged and distributed MDPV to other members of the conspiracy
who were selling the drug in the Bangor area. She also collected payment for the drug from
other members of the conspiracy. Bryden 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.
In imposing sentence, Chief Judge Woodcock referenced “the staggering scope of
Bryden’s involvement in dealing bath salts,” said the government was appropriate to characterize
the defendant and her one time boyfriend and co-defendant, Ryan Ellis, as the “Bonnie and
Clyde of bath salts,” and observed that “you and Mr. Ellis have had a permanent, profound and
deleterious impact on this area.”
The case was investigated by the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency with assistance from
the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Brewer and Bangor Police Departments.District of Maine U.S. Attorney’s Office Collects over $1.5 Million in Civil and Criminal Actions for U.S. Taxpayers in Fiscal Year 2014Read the Press Release
Contact: Donald E. Clark
Assistant United States Attorney
Tel: (207) 780-3257Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced today that
the District of Maine collected $1,525,980 in criminal and civil actions in Fiscal Year 2014. Of
this amount, $847,901.95 was collected in criminal actions and $678,078.23 was collected in
civil actions.Attorney General Eric Holder announced yesterday that the Justice Department collected
$24.7 billion in civil and criminal actions in the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2014. More than
$24 billion in collections in FY 2014 represents nearly eight and a half times the appropriated
$2.91 billion budget for the 94 U.S. Attorney’s offices and the main litigating divisions in that
same period.“Every day, the Justice Department’s federal prosecutors and trial attorneys work hard to
protect our citizens, to safeguard precious taxpayer resources, and to provide a valuable return on
investment to the American people,” said Attorney General Holder. “Their diligent efforts are
enabling us to achieve justice and recoup losses in virtually every sector of the U.S.
economy. And this result shows the fruits of the Justice Department’s tireless work in enforcing
federal laws; in protecting the American people from violent crime, national security threats,
discrimination, exploitation, and abuse; and in holding financial institutions accountable for their
roles in causing the 2008 financial crisis.”The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, along with the department’s litigating divisions, are
responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the U.S. and criminal
debts owed to federal crime victims. The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of
certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is
paid to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the department’s Crime
Victims’ Fund, which distributes the funds to state victim compensation and victim assistance
programs.The largest civil collections were from affirmative civil enforcement cases, in which the
United States recovered government money lost to fraud or other misconduct or collected fines
imposed on individuals and/or corporations for violations of federal health, safety, civil rights or
environmental laws. In addition, civil debts were collected on behalf of several federal agencies,
including the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Health and Human Services,
Internal Revenue Service, Small Business Administration and Department of Education.Additionally, the U.S. Attorney’s office in Maine, working with partner agencies and
divisions, collected $484,379 in asset forfeiture actions in FY 2014. Forfeited assets deposited
into the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund are used to restore funds to crime victims
and for a variety of law enforcement purposes.Calais Man Pleads Guilty to Making False StatementsRead 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, pled guilty yesterday in U.S. District Court to 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.Eldridge faces up to 5 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 EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division and
Environment Canada.Bangor Resident Sentenced to 7½ 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 Adam
Hathorn, 36, of Bangor was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Chief Judge John A.
Woodcock, Jr. to 90 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.” Hathorn pled guilty to the charge on April 2, 2014.According to court records, between April and December 2011, the members of the
conspiracy illegally distributed large quantities of MDPV in Penobscot, Aroostook and Knox
counties. The defendant packaged and distributed MDPV to others in the Bangor area. He
collected payment for the drugs and used the money to purchase additional quantities from other
members of the conspiracy. Hathorn is one of eighteen defendants who pleaded guilty to
conspiring with Ryan Ellis to distribute the drug. Ellis previously pleaded guilty and awaits
sentencing.In imposing sentence, Chief Judge Woodcock noted that Hathorn was “involved in a very
bad business” and “caused a lot of harm” to his own community.
The case was investigated by the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency with assistance from
the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Brewer and Bangor Police Departments.Perry Woman Pleads Guilty to 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, pled guilty yesterday in U.S. District Court to fraudulently acquiring
Hydrocodone and food stamp fraud.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.Smith faces up to 4 years in prison on the drug charge, up to 5 years in prison on the food
stamp fraud charge and a fine of up to $250,000 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 Offices of Inspector General of the U.S.
Departments of Health and Human Services and Agriculture and the Pleasant Point Police
Department.New York City Man Sentenced to Five Years for Oxycodone TraffickingRead 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 William
Waters, 33, of Bronx, New York, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Chief Judge
John A. Woodcock, Jr., to five years in prison and three years of supervised release for
possession with intent to distribute oxycodone. Waters pled guilty on March 31, 2014.Court records reveal that on March 15, 2013, the defendant and Ebony Howard were
encountered by officers with the Waterville Police Department who had information that Waters
and Howard were travelling with a large number oxycodone tablets. Waters and Howard were
driven to police headquarters where officers seized 645 oxycodone 30 mg tablets from
Howard. Waters admitted that Howard was doing him a favor transporting the pills, that he got
them in New York City and that he intended to distribute them to customers in Maine. At
sentencing, Waters was identified as a courier for a central Maine drug dealer, Maurice McCray,
who was sentenced yesterday.
In imposing sentence, Chief Judge Woodcock told Waters that his name was “all over the
Maurice McCray case” and told him the March 15th event in Waterville was “not a one-time
event.”
The case was investigated by the Waterville Police Department, with assistance from the
Maine Drug Enforcement Agency and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.Bangor Resident Sentenced to Almost Six 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 Daniel
Hines, 38, of Bangor was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Bangor by Chief Judge John A.
Woodcock, Jr. to 70 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 members of the
conspiracy illegally distributed large quantities of MDPV in Penobscot, Aroostook and Knox
counties. The defendant obtained MDPV from other members of the conspiracy and traded, sold
or otherwise distributed it to others. 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. Hines 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, and the Brewer and Bangor Police Departments.Waterville Man Sentenced to More Than 15 Years for Cocaine and Oxycodone TraffickingRead 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 Maurice
McCray, 34, of Waterville, Maine, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Bangor by
Chief Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. to 188 months in prison and six years of supervised release
for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute oxycodone and 500 grams or
more of cocaine. McCray pled guilty on March 26, 2013.Court records reveal that between January 1, 2012 and March 17, 2012, McCray obtained
over 500 grams of cocaine and over 6500 oxycodone tablets from New York City, transported
them to Waterville himself or using numerous couriers, and distributed them in Kennebec and
Somerset Counties.
In reviewing McCray’s nearly 20 year criminal history, Chief Judge Woodcock noted
that the only time McCray was not breaking the law was when he was in jail. He added that drug
dealing was “a way of life and a business” for McCray who had some good personal qualities,
but no “moral compass.”
The case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; the U.S.
Department of Homeland Security – Office of Homeland Security Investigations; the Maine
Drug Enforcement Agency; the Maine State Police; the Police Departments of Waterville,
Augusta, Fairfield, Oakland, and Skowhegan; and the Somerset and Kennebec County Sheriff’s
Offices. The Kennebec and Somerset County District Attorney’s Offices and the Office of the
Maine Attorney General also provided assistance in the investigation.
U.S. Attorney Delahanty praised the cooperation among these law enforcement agencies
noting that “this interstate drug trafficking organization was dismantled because local, state,
county and federal law enforcement agencies worked closely together.”Old Orchard Beach Man Sentenced to 9 Years for Pharmacy RobberyRead 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 Billy
Schildroth, 37, of Old Orchard Beach, Maine, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by
Judge Nancy Torresen to nine years in prison and three years of supervised release for pharmacy
robbery. He pled guilty on August 1, 2014.According to court records and evidence introduced at the plea hearing, on February 13,
2014, Kyle Desmarais drove Schildroth to a Rite Aid pharmacy located in Old Orchard Beach so
that Schildroth could rob the pharmacy. Schildroth absconded with Oxycontin (oxycodone)
and Suboxone (buprenorphine) after putting his hand inside his coat and telling the pharmacist
that he had “a gun and five bullets” and not to alert anyone or he would shoot the pharmacist in
the face.
In rendering the sentence, Judge Torresen noted the danger Schildroth’s actions posed to
both the pharmacist and the community and Schildroth’s criminal history that included a
residential burglary and two drug trafficking convictions.
On October 8, 2014, Desmarais was sentenced to 2½ years for aiding and abetting
pharmacy robbery.The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Old
Orchard Beach Police Department.New York City Woman Sentenced to Almost Two Years for Oxycodone TraffickingRead 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 Ebony
Howard, 29, of Bronx, New York, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Bangor by
Chief Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. to 22 months in prison and three years of supervised release
for possession with the intent to distribute oxycodone. Howard pled guilty on June 4, 2014.Court records reveal that on March 15, 2013, the defendant and William Waters were
encountered by officers with the Waterville Police Department who had information that Waters
and Howard were travelling with a large number oxycodone tablets. Howard and Waters were
driven to police headquarters where officers seized 645 oxycodone 30 mg tablets from
Howard. At sentencing, Howard was identified as a courier for Waters, who is scheduled to be
sentenced on Wednesday. Waters worked closely with central Maine drug dealer, Maurice
McCray, who is scheduled to be sentenced tomorrow.
The case was investigated by the Waterville Police Department, with assistance from the
Maine Drug Enforcement Agency and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.Massachusetts Man Sentenced to 1½ Years in Prison for Failure to Pay Child Support and Drug ChargeRead 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 Jay
Dandreo, 53, of Lynn, Massachusetts, was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court by Judge
Nancy Torresen to 18 months imprisonment and 5 years of supervised release for willfully
failing to pay child support and possessing with the intent to manufacture or distribute marijuana.
Dandreo was convicted of both charges on July 29, 2014, after a two-day jury trial.According to evidence introduced at trial, in May 2004, the Maine Department of Health
& Human Services (MDHHS) ordered Dandreo to pay for the support of his four minor children.
Between May 2004 and November 2013, Dandreo failed to make any child support payments,
resulting in an unpaid obligation of over $70,000. In August 2012, Maine Drug Enforcement
Agency (MDEA) investigators searched property located in Limerick, Maine owned by
Dandreo’s father and seized 183 marijuana plants growing at several locations on the property,
as well as drug distribution paraphernalia and several firearms.The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services,
Office of Inspector General; MDHHS, Office of Family Independence, Division of Support
Enforcement & Recovery; and MDEA.Kittery Man Sentenced to over 3 Years in Prison for Providing False Document to Probation Officer and Violating Release ConditionsRead 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 Rock, 54, of Kittery, Maine, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge D.
Brock Hornby to 39 months in prison, consisting of 27 months for violating conditions of
supervised release and an additional 12 months for providing a false document to his federal
probation officer. Rock was also sentenced to three years of supervised release following his
release from prison. Rock pleaded guilty to the charges on May 8, 2014.According to court records, in November 2013, Rock was on federal supervised release
following a conviction in the District of Maine for providing false information in a credit
application. He had previously been convicted twice in this district for mail fraud. As a result of
his convictions, he owed over $60,000 in restitution to his victims. As part of his supervised
release, Rock was required to answer truthfully all inquiries by his probation officer and provide
the officer with any requested financial information. After Rock’s probation officer received
information leading her to suspect that he had violated his release conditions, she instructed him
to complete a financial disclosure form. On the form, Rock failed to disclose a bank account
through which he conducted most of his financial activity. The officer’s investigation also
revealed that Rock failed to disclose that he was paying rent for a second residence in York in
addition to the residence in Kittery that he disclosed.The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Probation Office.
Portland Men Sentenced for Crack Cocaine TraffickingRead 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
Hamadi Hassan, 32, of Portland, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge Nancy
Torresen to 30 years in prison for leading a crack cocaine trafficking conspiracy. Hassan
pleaded guilty on May 12, 2014. Judge Torresen also sentenced Hassan’s co-conspirator,
Biniam Tsegai, 28, of Portland, to eight years for his role in the conspiracy. Tsegai pleaded
guilty on May 15, 2014.According to court records, between November 2010 and February 2012, the defendants
were part of a drug trafficking conspiracy that acquired cocaine in Boston and distributed crack
cocaine in the greater Portland area. Hassan was the leader of the conspiracy, took orders for
crack cocaine from customers and co-conspirators, transported cocaine from Boston to Maine,
and prepared, packaged and delivered crack cocaine to his customers and co-
conspirators. Tsegai prepared crack cocaine for sale and distribution after it had been brought to
Maine and he took orders for and delivered user-level quantities of crack cocaine to customers.The defendants operated their drug trafficking ring out of hotels in the greater Portland
area. They often carried firearms and held large sums of cash. They hid crack cocaine
throughout the greater Portland area in milk containers or cigarette cartons left randomly on the
sides of the roads, in bushes, under trees and in wooded areas. On May 16, 2011, police
recovered over 20 grams of defendants’ crack cocaine inside a cigarette box located in the play
area of a local day care facility.Judge Torresen noted that Hassan’s lengthy criminal history, including three prior
convictions for drug trafficking and violent crimes, and his violent nature warranted the lengthy
sentence imposed on him. According to evidence presented at the sentencing hearing, Hassan
threw a female co-conspirator to the ground and broke her ribs by stomping on them because of
an unpaid drug debt, choked a second female co-conspirator while promising to kill her if she
cooperated with authorities, and forced a third female co-conspirator to sell narcotics from her
hospital bed while she was admitted. Hassan was subject to an enhanced sentence as a career
offender.The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the
Portland Police Department, the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, the Maine State Police and
the Southern Maine Gang Task Force, which is comprised of agents and officers from the FBI,
the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Immigration & Customs
Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration
and the Portland and Biddeford Police Departments.New Hampshire Man Pleads Guilty to Interstate Travel to Have Sex with ChildRead 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, 42, of Northwood, New Hampshire, pleaded guilty today in U.S District Court in
Bangor to interstate travel to have sex with a minor.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.Amodio faces up to 30 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 Bangor Police Department, the Federal Bureau of
Investigation, the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office, and the Maine State Police.Sanford Man Sentenced to 10 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
Richard M. Moulton, Jr., 31, of Sanford, Maine, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by
Judge Nancy Torresen to 10 years in prison and 10 years of supervised release for transporting
child pornography. Moulton pleaded guilty to the charge on May 21, 2014.According to court records, in February 2014, Moulton sent an email message to the
undercover email account of a federal agent, attaching four video files depicting minors engaged
in sexually explicit activity and asking: “Can u send 4 back also.” Evidence presented at the
sentencing hearing showed that Moulton frequently used his email account to solicit child
pornography from others and to send child pornography videos and images.In imposing sentence, Judge Torresen noted the seriousness of the crime Moulton had
committed and the lasting impact that such offenses have on the children depicted in the images
traded online. Judge Torresen also stated that each person who possesses or distributes such
images bears some responsibility for the sexual exploitation of these children.
The investigation was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s
Homeland Security Investigations and the Sanford 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.govSangerville Man Pleads Guilty to Pharmacy RobberyRead the Press Release
Contact: Andrew McCormack
Assistant United States Attorney
Tel: (207) 945-0373Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced that James
Stile, 58, of Sangerville, Maine, pleaded guilty yesterday in U.S. District Court in Portland to
pharmacy robbery.Court records and proceedings reveal that on September 12, 2011, Stile entered the E.W.
Moore and Sons pharmacy in Bingham, Maine and pulled what appeared to be 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 the owner filled the bag with narcotics, Stile tied the hands and feet of the
customer and the three employees. Once the bag was full of narcotics, Stile instructed the owner
to lie down on the floor. Stile then tied the hands and feet of the owner and fled the store.Stile faces up to 25 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 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the
Somerset County Sheriff’s Office, the Piscataquis County Sheriff’s Office, the Maine State
Police and the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency.Kittery Man Sentenced for Structuring and Illegally Purchasing LobstersRead 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 John
W. Price, 59, of Kittery, Maine, was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court by Judge D.
Brock Hornby to 45 days in prison for structuring currency transactions and for illegally
purchasing lobsters. Price was also fined $100,000.Court records reveal that between 2008 and 2010, Price, the owner of J.P.’s Shellfish, a
seafood distributor in Eliot, Maine, purchased lobsters for cash from a dock employee of the
Spruce Head Fisherman’s Co-op in South Thomaston, Maine. Price directed his employees who
withdrew the cash from the J.P.’s Shellfish business bank account not to withdraw more than
$10,000 in cash at any one time, so as to avoid federal regulations requiring banks to file reports
involving cash transactions of more than $10,000. The dock employee who sold the lobsters to
Price was not a licensed seafood dealer, making the sales illegal under Maine law. Under the
federal Lacey Act, it is illegal to purchase lobsters in violation of state law.“This scheme to transact enormous amounts of American lobster on the black market
undermines the ability of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and
the State of Maine to sustainably manage this fishery, which is so critical to Maine’s overall
economy,” said NOAA Special Agent in Charge Logan Gregory. “The Office of Law
Enforcement will continue to work with its state and federal partners to expose these schemes
and hold the participants accountable.”The charges are the result of a collaborative investigation conducted by the Internal
Revenue Service, NOAA, Office of Law Enforcement, and the Knox County Sheriff’s Office.New Hampshire Woman Pleads Guilty to 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 Janis
F. Woods, 65, of Conway, New Hampshire pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to interstate
transportation of stolen checks and tax evasion.According to court documents, between 2009 and 2012, Woods used her position as
bookkeeper for Grover Gundrilling, Inc., of Norway, Maine, to issue herself 169 unauthorized
checks totaling over $742,000 which she deposited into a bank account in New Hampshire.
Between 2007 and 2009, she used her position as bookkeeper for VM Foods of Conway, New
Hampshire to issue herself $220,000 in unauthorized checks. By failing to report the stolen
funds on her federal income tax returns, she evaded almost $284,000 in taxes.
Woods faces up to ten years in prison and twice the gain or loss as a fine for the interstate
transportation charge and up to five years in prison and twice the gain or loss on the tax evasion
charge. She will be sentenced after completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S.
Probation Office.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal
Revenue Service.Connecticut Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Cocaine TraffickingRead 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 Richard
A. Kincaid, III, of Waterbury, Connecticut was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court by
Chief Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. to 10 years in prison and three years of supervised release for
distributing cocaine. He was also ordered to forfeit $3,906 and a 2008 Chevrolet Impala.According to court records, on March 25, 2014, the defendant drove the Impala from
Connecticut to a Bangor residence to deliver about seven ounces of cocaine to an individual
there. The defendant also collected money from drug customers at the residence. He was
arrested a week later when he returned to Bangor.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Maine
Drug Enforcement Agency.Canadian Man Pleads Guilty to 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, 31, of Leduc, Alberta, Canada, pled guilty today in U.S. District Court to transporting
child pornography. He was indicted in May 2013.According to court records, in April 2013, Rockwell, who was in Canada, sent an email
message to the undercover email account of a federal agent in Maine, attaching a file containing
38 images of sexually explicit conduct involving young children. In May 2014, Canada ordered
him extradited and surrendered to American law enforcement officials.Rockwell faces a sentence of between five years and 20 years in prison and a $250,000
fine. He also faces a term of supervised release of 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 U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s
Homeland Security Investigations and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.Stockholm Man Sentenced to 22 Years in Prison on Child Pornography 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
Benjamin A. Rossignol, 22, of Stockholm, Maine, was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District
Court by Chief Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. to 22 years in prison to be followed by 20 years of
supervised release for possessing and distributing child pornography. Rossignol pleaded guilty
to the charges on May 8, 2014.Court records reveal that in October 2013 the defendant created images of child
pornography using a minor child. He sent three of those images to a covert internet investigator
with the Queensland Police Service (“QPS”) in Australia. On November 8, 2013, federal and
state agents executed a search warrant at the defendant’s residence in Stockholm. A forensic
examination of the defendant’s cell phone and his computer revealed images identical to the ones
sent to the QPS investigator and other child pornography.The investigation was conducted jointly by U.S. Immigration and Customs
Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit,
the Bangor Police Department and the Queensland Police Service.Gardiner Man Pleads Guilty to 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, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Bangor to
pharmacy robbery.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 K9 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.Mansir 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 Gardiner Police Department, the Maine State
Police, the Kennebec County Sheriff’s Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.Gardiner Man Pleads Guilty to Bank 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 John C.
Slater, 66, of Gardiner, Maine, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Bangor to bank
robbery.According to court records, on June 23, 2014, the defendant robbed $15,000 from the
Bank of Maine, in Hallowell, Maine after handing a bank employee a demand note that
read: “Im Here to Rob your Bank, no silent Alarms my cell Phone rings, your all dead, I have a
hand grenade, and a gun, no marked bills, or inked, if so, one day I will come back and kill all of
you, do you understand.???”The ensuing investigation identified the defendant as a suspect. On June 27, 2014, law
enforcement officers executed search warrants at two locations where the defendant had been
living. Those searches revealed evidence that connected the defendant to the bank robbery. On
July 9, 2014, the defendant was arrested in New Hampshire.Slater faces up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and mandatory 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 Hallowell, Augusta and Gardiner Police
Departments; the Maine State Police; and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.California Man Sentenced to 1½ Years in Prison for Theft and Embezzlement from the Passamaquoddy TribeRead 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 Charles
Fourcloud, a/k/a “Arlynn E. Knudsen,” 59, of San Jose, California, was sentenced today in
U.S. District Court by Judge George Z. Singal to 1½ years in prison and three years of
supervised release for stealing and embezzling funds from the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Pleasant
Point. He was also ordered to pay $22,571.61 in restitution. Fourcloud pleaded guilty on June
26, 2014.Court records show that in May 2013, the defendant was hired by the tribe to serve as its
chief financial officer (CFO). He applied for the CFO position using a fictitious employment
history and fake references. He also concealed the facts that in 1997 he was convicted in federal
court in the Western Division of South Dakota of conspiracy to defraud the United States, theft
from an Indian tribal organization, theft from a program receiving federal funds, money
laundering and structuring and that he served an eight year prison sentence. From April through
August 2013, the defendant fraudulently obtained and stole about $20,000 from the tribe by
submitting fraudulent travel expense reports and supporting documentation and by submitting
fraudulent documentation related to moving expense reimbursement.The investigation was conducted jointly by the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services Office of Inspector General and the Pleasant Point Police Department.Brunswick Women Sentenced to 20 Months in Prison for Federal Program and Tax FraudRead 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 Stacey
A. Backman, 41, of Brunswick, Maine, was sentenced in U.S. District Court by Judge D. Brock
Hornby to 20 months in prison for federal program and tax fraud. She was also ordered to pay
$365,168 in restitution. She pled guilty to the offenses on June 9, 2014.According to court records, the defendant was a fund accountant at Coastal Enterprises,
Inc. (CEI). CEI is a private, nonprofit, charitable Community Development Corporation and
Community Development Financial Institution based in Wiscasset, Maine that received more
than $10,000 in federal funds each year. From 2010 to January 2014, the defendant embezzled
$365,168 from CEI and failed to report the embezzled income on her federal income tax
returns. CEI learned of the embezzlement in January 2014 and terminated the defendant’s
employment.The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office
of Inspector General (OIG); the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations Division; the
U.S. Department of Agriculture, OIG; and the Wiscasset Police Department.Bangor Man Sentenced to Five Years on Firearms 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 Perrin
Oliver, 44, of Bangor and formerly of Brooklyn, New York, was sentenced today in U.S.
District Court by Judge George Z. Singal to five years in prison and three years of supervised
release for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Oliver pleaded guilty to the charge on
December 19, 2013.According to court records and proceedings, on July 4, 2013, Oliver, a previously
convicted felon, was arrested by the police after a stand-off at his Bangor apartment. During the
course of that stand-off, Oliver fired multiple rounds of ammunition from his apartment. After
his arrest, officers found a Rossi .38 Special revolver in Oliver’s waistband. A safe located in
Oliver’s apartment contained a SIG Sauer .380 semi-automatic pistol and crack cocaine
belonging to Oliver.The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and
Explosives and the Bangor Police Department.Pennsylvania Man Pleads Guilty to 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, 25, of York, Pennsylvania, pled guilty today in U.S. District Court to
conspiring to traffic in counterfeit goods.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.
Kurnik faces up to 10 years in prison and a $2,000,000 fine. He will be sentenced after
the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.
The investigation was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s
Homeland Security Investigations.Penobscot Man Convicted of Possessing 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 Kevin
Lee Ross, 52, of Penobscot, Maine, was found guilty today after a one-day jury trial in U.S.
District Court of possessing child pornography.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.Ross faces 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or both. He agreed to forfeit the
computers. 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 and the Maine
State Police Computer Crimes Unit.Lewiston Man Sentenced to 18 Years for Being a Felon in Possession of AmmunitionRead 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 Jerome
Hudson, 44, of Lewiston, Maine, and formerly of Danvers, Massachusetts, was sentenced
yesterday in U.S. District Court by Judge Jon D. Levy to 18 years in prison and five years of
supervised release for being a felon in possession of ammunition. Hudson pleaded guilty to the
charge on June 11, 2014.Court records and evidence presented at the sentencing hearing reveal that on January 13,
2014, Hudson was living in a Lewiston townhouse apartment with his girlfriend and her young
children. Shortly before 8:00a.m., he got into an argument with the father of those children when
the father arrived to help them get on the school bus, as he did daily. Hudson retrieved a 9 mm
handgun from the apartment, ran outside, chased and fired multiple shots at the father as nearby
school children began filing outside to catch their bus. Hudson then fled the scene on foot.A search of Hudson’s bedroom revealed a safe containing 38 rounds of ammunition,
some of which matched that used to shoot at the father. Hudson hid from the police for several
hours in a neighbor’s townhouse. He was captured three hours after the shooting. He refused to
tell investigators where the handgun was hidden and it remains unrecovered.As a result of prior convictions for drug trafficking offenses and violent felonies in
Massachusetts between 1997 and 2005, Hudson was subject to an enhanced sentence as an
Armed Career Criminal requiring a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison.Judge Levy said that his main focus in imposing the lengthy sentence was the need to
protect the public from further crimes by Hudson.The investigation was conducted by the Lewiston Police Department, the Central Maine
Violent Crime Task Force and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.Gardiner Man Pleads Guilty to 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, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to Interference with
Commerce by Robbery, in connection with the November 28, 2013 (Thanksgiving Day) robbery
of the Rite Aid pharmacy in Bridgton, Maine.Court records reveal that on Thanksgiving in 2013, Richard entered the Rite Aid in
Bridgton wearing a hooded sweatshirt, sunglasses, and a bandana, and handed the pharmacist a
note that read, “All your oxycodone now!” The pharmacist handed Richard a bag containing
oxycodone pills and Richard fled from the pharmacy in a car with a concealed license plate.Richard faces up to 20 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 Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bridgton
Police Department, with additional assistance provided by the Augusta and Gardiner Police
Departments, and the Kennebec County Sheriff’s Department.Falmouth Man Sentenced to over 10 Years on Cocaine and Firearms 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 Adam
White, 27, of Falmouth, Maine, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 130 months in
prison for possession with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine and possession of
a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. White also was sentenced to 5 years of
supervised release. White pleaded guilty in June 2014.Court records reveal that on February 12, 2013, law enforcement officers stopped
White’s vehicle in Portland after investigation had revealed that he planned to conduct a drug
transaction. The officers found about 400 grams of cocaine in the trunk of the car and a handgun
and loaded magazine near the driver’s seat. Officers searched White’s home in Falmouth later
that day and seized about 3 kilograms of cocaine, over $13,000 in cash, other items consistent
with drug trafficking and a loaded handgun.The investigation was conducted by the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency; the U.S. Drug
Enforcement Administration; the Maine State Police; and the Portland, South Portland and
Falmouth Police Departments.Fajita Grill Owners Sentenced for Hiring Undocumented Aliens and False StatementsRead the Press Release
Contacts: Julia M. Lipez and James W. Chapman, Jr.
Assistant United States Attorneys
Tel: (207) 780-3257Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced that
brothers, Guillermo Fuentes of Westbrook, Maine and Hector Fuentes of Waterville,
Maine, were sentenced today in U.S. District Court for hiring ten or more undocumented
aliens in a twelve-month period and making false statements. Guillermo Fuentes was
sentenced to 37 months in prison to be followed by 2 years of supervised release. Hector
Fuentes was sentenced to 30 months in prison to be followed by 1 year of supervised
release. Both were ordered to forfeit over $48,000 that was seized in connection with the
investigation. The defendants pleaded guilty on June 16, 2014.Court records reveal that the charges relate to the hiring of undocumented workers at
the Fajita Grill restaurant in Westbrook, Maine, and to post-arrest statements the defendants
made to law enforcement officers in September 2011 in which they falsely stated, among
other things, that federally required documentation regarding the immigration status of
employees had been properly completed.The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement’s
Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector
General.Colorado Man Pleads Guilty to Child 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, 30, of Canon City, Colorado, pled guilty today in United States District
Court to sexually exploiting a child and transporting child pornography.According to court records, in March of this year, 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.
Burkman faces a sentence of no less than 25 years and no more than 50 years of
imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, and supervised release of up to life on the sexual
exploitation charge. He faces a sentence of no less than 15 years and no more than 40 years of
imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, and supervised release of up to life on the transportation
charge. Burkman’s mandatory minimum and maximum sentences on both charges are increased
because of a prior child pornography conviction. 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 and the Colorado Springs Police Department.Biddeford Man Sentenced to 2½ Years for Pharmacy RobberyRead 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 Kyle
Desmarais, 32, of Biddeford, was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court by Judge Nancy
Torresen to 2 ½ years in prison for pharmacy robbery. Desmarais pleaded guilty to the charge
on June 20, 2014.According to court records, on February 13, 2014, Desmarais drove Billy Schildroth to a
Rite Aid pharmacy located in Old Orchard Beach, so that Schildroth could rob the
pharmacy. Schildroth absconded with Oxycontin (oxycodone) and Suboxone (buprenorphine)
after putting his hand inside his coat and telling the pharmacist that he had “a gun and five
bullets” and not to alert anyone or he would shoot the pharmacist in the face. After the robbery,
Desmarais drove Schildroth away knowing that he had committed the robbery.Schildroth pleaded guilty on August 1, 2014 and is scheduled to be sentenced on
November 18, 2014. Schildroth faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Old
Orchard Beach Police Department.Bangor Man Sentenced for Misdemeanor Cocaine Possession in Acadia National ParkRead 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 Glenn
G. Watson, 63, of Bangor, Maine, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Bangor to four
months in prison and one year of supervised release and fined $1,736 for cocaine possession. He
was also ordered to pay the costs of the testing the cocaine seized from him. The defendant
pleaded guilty on August 28, 2014.
On June 24, 2014, Watson was in a vehicle parked in Acadia National Park. A ranger
approached the vehicle and smelled marijuana. The defendant admitted smoking marijuana and
having it in the vehicle and agreed to a search of the vehicle. The ranger found four grams of
cocaine in the vehicle and seized $2,001 from the defendant and the vehicle.
The case was investigated by the U.S. National Park Service.Massachusetts Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Cocaine Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Contact: Daniel J. Perry
Assistant United States Attorney
Tel: (207) 780-3257
Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced that Brian
Wilkerson, 36, of Dorchester, Massachusetts was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court by
Judge George Z. Singal to 15 years in prison and eight years of supervised release for conspiring
to distribute cocaine. Wilkerson pleaded guilty on October 28, 2013.
According to court records, from early 2012 until June 2013, Wilkerson supplied
kilogram quantities of cocaine to David Goyette in Auburn, Maine. Goyette and others
distributed the cocaine to customers in the greater Lewiston/Auburn area. Goyette pleaded guilty
to conspiracy and cocaine distribution charges on August 29, 2014 and awaits sentencing.This case results from a joint investigation conducted by the United States Drug
Enforcement Administration, the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, the Lewiston and Auburn
Police Departments 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.Gardiner Man Sentenced to over 3 Years for Pharmacy RobberyRead the Press Release
Contact: Craig M. Wolff
Assistant United States Attorney
Tel: (207) 780-3257Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced that Ryan
McLaughlin, 27, of Gardiner, Maine, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge D.
Brock Hornby to 37 months in prison and three years of supervised release for pharmacy
robbery. McLaughlin pleaded guilty on April 17, 2014.According to court records, on November 13, 2013, McLaughlin entered the Shaw’s
Osco pharmacy in Augusta and handed a note to a pharmacy employee demanding two bottles of
Oxycodone. He was agitated as he spoke with the pharmacy staff, stating that he was in a hurry
and demanding that they move faster. He also kept one of his hands in his pocket during the
incident, as if he were concealing something. Pharmacy personnel provided him with two bottles
of Oxycodone and he left the store. In an interview after his arrest, McLaughlin admitted robbing
the store and said he had committed the robbery to obtain pills to feed his severe addiction.The investigation was conducted by the Augusta Police Department and the Federal
Bureau of Investigation.Former Windham Couple Pleads Guilty to 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, 55, and his wife, Renee Thomes, 51, both formerly of Windham,
Maine, now of St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, pleaded guilty this week, in U.S. District Court, to
firearms charges. Ted Thomes was convicted of being a felon in possession of firearms. Renee
Thomes was convicted of knowingly transferring firearms to a non-Maine resident.According to evidence presented at the plea hearing, prior to July 2011, Renee Thomes
acquired several handguns belonging to a Windham neighbor for whom the couple served as
caretakers. In December 2011, Ted Thomes, a convicted felon who had previously been
convicted in Maine for being a felon in possession of firearms, took the handguns to the home of
another neighbor. In June 2012, Renee Thomes retrieved the handguns and illegally gave them
to a New Hampshire auctioneer.
Ted Thomes faces up to 10 years in prison. Renee Thomes faces up to five years in
prison. Both face a $250,000 fine. They will be sentenced after completion of presentence
investigation reports by the U.S. Probation Office.
The investigation was conducted by the Windham Police Department, the Maine
Attorney General’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.Brunswick Man Pleads Guilty to Crack Cocaine TraffickingRead 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, of Brunswick, Maine, pleaded guilty today, in U.S. District Court in Portland to
possession with intent to distribute more than 28 grams of cocaine base.According to evidence presented at the plea hearing, 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 crack cocaine and arrested.
Collins faces between 10 years and life in prison. He will be sentenced after completion
of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.
The investigation was conducted by the Portland Police Department, the Maine Drug
Enforcement Agency and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.Arundel Man Sentenced to 1½ Years in Prison for Bank TheftRead 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 Jeffrey
Burnham, 42, of Arundel, Maine, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge George
Z. Singal to 1½ years in prison and 3 years of supervised release for theft by a bank officer.
Burnham pleaded guilty on June 10, 2014.According to court records, from about February 2011 to February 2012, Burnham, who
was a Vice President with TD Bank, stole about $240,000 from the bank. Burnham used his
corporate credit card to charge personal expenditures at several gentlemen’s clubs located in
Maine, Massachusetts, New York, and Florida and then submitted false expense reports and
other false information that caused the bank to pay for those personal expenditures. Burnham
also gave TD Bank gift cards that were designed to be given as gifts to TD Bank clients instead
to employees of the gentlemen’s clubs.The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Lebanon Man Pleads Guilty to Firearm ChargeRead 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, pled guilty today in U.S. District Court before Judge
D. Brock Hornby to being a felon in possession of a firearm.According to court records, Young was discovered hunting with a 16-gauge shotgun in
the area of Acton, Maine on May 1, 2014. Young was prohibited from possessing firearms on
account of two prior felony convictions.
Young 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 Maine State Police and the Bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.Gardiner Man Indicted on Pharmacy Robbery ChargeRead 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 indicted by a federal grand jury in Portland on Tuesday
and charged with Interference with Commerce by Robbery, in connection with the November 28,
2013 (Thanksgiving Day) robbery of the Rite Aid pharmacy in Bridgton, Maine.Court records reveal that Richard was arrested and made his first appearance in federal
court yesterday. A detention hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, September 30, 2014. If
convicted, Richard faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bridgton Police
Department, with assistance from the Augusta and Gardiner Police Departments, and the
Kennebec County Sheriff’s Office.An indictment is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless
proven guilty in a court of law.Missouri Man Pleads Guilty to Interstate StalkingRead 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, 42, of Springfield, Missouri, pleaded guilty on Tuesday in U.S.
District Court to interstate stalking. The defendant was indicted on June 3 and a superseding
indictment was returned on September 10.According to the superseding indictment and evidence introduced at the plea hearing,
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.
McBroom-Stees faces up to 5 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 Knox County Sheriff’s Office, the Rockland
Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.Westbrook Man Sentenced to Eight Years for Possessing Child Pornography and PerjuryRead 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 Joel
Dudley, 30, of Westbrook, was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court by Judge George Z.
Singal to 8 years in prison and 10 years of supervised release for possessing child pornography
and testifying falsely under oath during a court hearing. Dudley was convicted following
separate jury trials in February and April.According to evidence introduced at the two trials, in August 2012, federal agents and
local police executed a search warrant at Dudley’s apartment in Westbrook and seized two
DVDs later found to contain numerous child pornography videos.
In April 2013, Dudley testified at a hearing on a motion to suppress evidence he filed in
the child pornography case. At the hearing, held in U.S. District Court in Portland, Dudley
falsely testified that he had repeatedly invoked his right to counsel during an interview with law
enforcement agents, but that the agents had continued to question him in violation of his
constitutional rights.The investigation was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s
Homeland Security Investigations and the Westbrook Police Department.Portland Man Sentenced to Four Years for Transporting Women Interstate for 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 Samuel
Gravely, 28, of Portland, Maine, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge Nancy
Torresen to four years in prison and three years of supervised release for interstate transportation
of three women for prostitution. On November 20, 2013, Gravely pleaded guilty plea to the
charge.According to the indictment and trial evidence, on March 27, 2013, Gravely and co-
defendant, Fritz Blanchard, caused a 20-year-old Presque Isle woman and a 17-year-old Portland
minor to work as prostitutes at a Portland hotel, advertising their services on backpage.com. On
March 28, Gravely and Blanchard drove the two women, and a 19-year-old 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.Blanchard was convicted of aiding and abetting interstate transportation for prostitution
after a four-day jury trial that ended on August 28, 2014. He awaits sentencing.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.Lewiston Man Sentenced to Two Years on Firearms ChargeRead 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
Andrew Silva, 30, of Lewiston, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge Nancy
Torresen to 2 years in prison and 3 years of supervised release for being a felon in possession of
a firearm and ammunition. Silva pleaded guilty on May 21, 2014.According to court records, on September 12, 2012, officers from the Lewiston Police
Department responded to a reported domestic incident. When Silva was arrested in connection
with the incident, a round of .22 caliber ammunition was found in his pocket. Officers then
obtained a search warrant and found a loaded .22 caliber pistol in the living room closet of the
apartment in which Silva was arrested. Silva was prohibited from possessing firearms or
ammunition because of a prior felony conviction for aggravated assault.The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and
Explosives, and the Lewiston Police Department.New Jersy Man Pleads Guilty to Firearms ChargeRead the Press Release
Contact: James M. Moore
Assistant United States Attorney
Tel: (207) 945-0373Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced that Kevin
Anderson, 46, of Mullica Township, New Jersey, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to
unlawful possession of firearms.Court records reveal during a July 12, 2013 probation home check at a Moose River,
Maine residence, probation officers discovered seven firearms, including, four handguns, in the
defendant’s bedroom. The defendant was prohibited from possessing handguns because of three
prior felony convictions.Anderson 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 Probation and Parole Office, the United States Border Patrol, the
Somerset County Sheriff’s Office and the Maine Warden Service.Eddington Man Sentenced to over Six Years on Firearms and Heroin ChargesRead 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
Nicholas McDonald, 33, of Eddington, Maine, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by
Chief Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. to 75 months in prison and three years of supervised release
for possession with intent to distribute heroin and possession of a firearm by a felon. He pleaded
guilty on March 4, 2014.According to Court records, on April 5, 2013, the defendant was arrested after he fled
from a vehicle that was stopped by law enforcement agents in Holden, Maine. He was found
hiding in the woods nearby. Following his arrest, he was taken to a local hospital for medical
treatment where agents discovered a package of heroin concealed inside his body. In the vehicle,
agents found a safe containing a Sig Sauer Model P226, 9 mm semi-automatic pistol, a digital
scale, and items typically used to package illegal drugs. The defendant’s DNA was found on the
safe and firearm. He was prohibited from possession firearms because he was convicted in
Maine in 2006 of felony failure to report to serve a sentence of imprisonment.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the
Holden Police Department, the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Department, with the assistance of
the Brewer Police Department, the Maine State Police, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,
Firearms and Explosives.