District of Maine
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Self-Described Racist Skinhead Sentenced for Race-Based Threats via Social Media Against Black Neighbors in MaineRead the Press Release
A Lewiston, Maine, man was sentenced today to 30 months in prison for threatening a Black family who lived in his apartment complex.
Charles Allen Barnes, 47, previously pleaded guilty to one count of threatening communications in interstate commerce. In connection with his plea, Barnes admitted to sending a Facebook voice message in which he stated that he was outside a neighbor’s residence and would kill anyone who emerged. In the message, Barnes repeatedly used racial slurs to refer to the victims.
“Violent and racially motivated threats have no place in our society,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This defendant, a self-described racist skinhead, used social media to terrorize his innocent neighbors because they are Black. This sentence cannot undo the fear and trauma his hateful actions caused but should make clear that online threats come with real-world penalties. The Justice Department is steadfast in enforcing our federal civil rights laws to ensure all communities, including communities of color, are protected from hate-fueled threats of violence.”
“The hate-fueled threat and his subsequent possession of a weapon nearby instilled fear in this family in the one place we all should feel safest,” said U.S. Attorney Darcie N. McElwee for the District of Maine. “Hate of any kind will not be tolerated in Maine, and we will continue to pursue justice for victims of racial harassment, threats, and violence.”
“Charles Barnes’ abhorrent behavior and racist threats put his neighbors through a horrific experience,” said Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen of the FBI Boston Division. “People of all races and faiths deserve to feel safe in their communities. It is our hope that today’s sentence helps the victims in this case heal, while making it clear to others that violence, especially borne from hate, will not be tolerated.”
According to evidence presented at the sentencing hearing, Barnes harbored longstanding racist views, espoused white supremacist rhetoric online and had described himself to an acquaintance as a racist skinhead. After hearing this and other evidence, the court enhanced the sentence based on its finding that Barnes intentionally selected his victims because of race. The court also heard that, several hours after Barnes sent the threatening message, police officers found him sitting outside of his apartment located in the same complex, armed with a large knife. Based on this evidence, the court imposed an additional sentencing enhancement.
The FBI Boston Field Office investigated the case, with assistance from the Maine Attorney General’s Office and Lewiston Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sheila Sawyer for the District of Maine and Trial Attorney Alec Ward of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case.
Portland Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Distributing Fake Pills Tainted with Fentanyl, Failing to Appear for TrialRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Portland man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for distributing fentanyl, using or carrying a dangerous weapon in a drug crime, and failing to appear before the court.
U.S. District Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. sentenced Marcus Mello, 27, to 181 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release. The Court ordered forfeiture of his $25,000 appearance bond, and a default judgment in that amount was entered against him. Mello pleaded guilty on February 6, 2024.
According to court records, in May 2020, Mello sold 12 “percs,” a common term for Percocet or Oxycodone pills, to a 59-year-old York County woman. The woman was found unconscious in a parked vehicle shortly after and could not be revived. An autopsy identified her cause of death as toxicity due to the combined effects of multiple substances, including fentanyl. Text messages recovered from the victim’s phone revealed she had purchased pills from Mello, and a medical examiner recovered a baggie marked with images of skulls that contained ten blue pills from her clothing. A chemical analysis revealed that the pills contained fentanyl, not oxycodone.
A witness who was with the victim when she purchased the pills and overdosed texted Mello to inform him of the woman’s death and demanded to know what was in the pills. Despite knowing that someone had died after taking the “percs” that he sold them, Mello continued to sell the pills to other customers, including to a confidential informant. When Mello was arrested in July 2020, investigators recovered over $6,300; a loaded handgun with 14 full-metal-jacket bullets in the magazine; approximately 10 round white tablets; and approximately 417 blue pills marked “M 30” divided into plastic baggies from his backpack. Laboratory testing of the blue pills revealed that they contained fentanyl and collectively weighed approximately 45.6 grams. The white pills tested positive for Oxycodone and weighed approximately 3.8 grams. A review of Mello’s phone revealed conversations with his supplier, including dates, quantities and distribution details.
While out on bail, Mello appeared in court for jury selection on October 6, 2023, but failed to appear for the start of the trial on October 16. When reached by phone, he stated he could not make it to court that day but had decided to plead guilty. When Mello again did not appear the following day, a warrant was issued for his arrest. U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents located and arrested Mello at a residence in South Portland on November 3, 2023. Agents recovered a bag of white powder from a bathroom where Mello had briefly fled, another bag of powder in his shirt pocket, and a third bag in a shoebox in a guest bedroom.
The DEA investigated the case.
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Justice Department Sues Maine for Violating the Americans with Disabilities ActRead the Press Release
The Justice Department sued the State of Maine today for unnecessarily segregating children with behavioral health disabilities in hospitals, residential facilities and a state-operated juvenile detention facility in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Supreme Court’s decision in Olmstead v. L.C. The department previously notified Maine of its findings of civil rights violations in a June 2022 letter to Maine. The letter identified steps that Maine should take to remedy the violations.
“The State of Maine has an obligation to protect its residents, including children with behavioral health disabilities, and such children should not be confined to facilities away from their families and community resources,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Civil Rights Division is committed to ensuring that people with disabilities can get the services they need to remain at home with their families and loved ones, in their communities.”
“Families across Maine must be able to access to local community-based services for their children with behavioral health disabilities,” said U.S. Attorney Darcie N. McElwee for the District of Maine. “The alleged violations identified by the Justice Department must be remedied so that these children and their families can obtain services in their own communities, as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act.”
The ADA and the Olmstead decision require state and local governments to ensure the services they provide for children with disabilities are available in the most integrated setting appropriate to each child’s needs. These services can include assistance with daily activities, behavior management and individual or family counseling. Community-based behavioral health services also include crisis services that can help prevent a child from being institutionalized during a mental health crisis. Absent these services, Maine children with disabilities enter emergency rooms, come into contact with law enforcement and remain in institutions when they could remain with their families if Maine provided them sufficient community-based services.
The lawsuit alleges that Maine administers its system in a way that limits behavioral health services in the community. As a result, Maine children must enter in- and out-of-state facilities, or even the state-operated juvenile detention facility, Long Creek Youth Development Center, to receive behavioral health services. Others are at serious risk of entering these facilities, as their families struggle to keep them home despite the lack of necessary services.
The Civil Rights Division’s Disability Rights Section investigated this case with assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine.
For more information on the ADA, please call the department’s toll-free ADA Information Line at 1-800-514-0301 (TDD 800-514-0383) or visit www.ada.gov/topics/community-integration/.
For more information on the Civil Rights Division, please visit www.justice.gov/crt.
The letter of findings can be viewed here.
U.S. Attorney’s Office, AARP Maine, and Maine Council for Elder Abuse Prevention Launch Elder Fraud Program at Hannaford Pharmacies Across MaineRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine today announced an innovative new elder fraud awareness program that will utilize the inherent relationships of pharmacists and their customers to reach older Mainers. The Maine Rx Elder Fraud Program is a collaborative effort between the U.S. Attorney’s Office, AARP Maine, and the Maine Council for Elder Abuse Prevention.
“Pharmacists are consistently ranked among the most trusted health care providers, and with approximately 9 out of 10 people over age 65 having at least one regular prescription, pharmacists will be a key partner in our efforts to inform this population,” said U.S. Attorney Darcie N. McElwee. “That trust and regular contact makes pharmacies an ideal conduit to reach older Mainers, as well as their family members or caregivers.”
The program, which is designed to educate Mainers on common signs of scams and how to report elder fraud, will begin at Hannaford Supermarkets’ 60 in-store pharmacies across Maine. Informational brochures will be attached to prescription bags for distribution to Hannaford pharmacy customers.
“We recognize older individuals, as well as their caretakers, make up a large portion of our customer base, and that we are uniquely positioned to help reach this audience directly through our pharmacy services as a trusted source for health and safety information,” said Sara Lane, Manager of Pharmacy Clinical Services, Hannaford Supermarkets. “We are always looking for opportunities to make a positive impact in the communities we serve and by making this information available to our pharmacy customers in all corners of our state, our goal is to help reduce the number of elder fraud incidents in Maine.”
Elder fraud is a growing problem across the nation. Last year, more than 101,000 Americans aged 60-plus were defrauded out of $3.4 billion through an ever-growing variety of scams. According to the FBI, that number included 397 Mainers who filed fraud complaints last year for losses totaling more than $7.1 million, and many others go unreported. While some scams can have negligible losses, recent sophisticated scams have robbed victims of their life savings.
“There are so many different types of scams in circulation, it can be difficult to recognize them all. Add in technology, and it becomes even more difficult,” said Jane Margesson, Communications Director for AARP Maine. “Increasingly, the scams are more sophisticated and with multiple layers, even multiple scammers playing different roles. As the schemes have become more complex, the potential losses have increased as well. Those losses can be especially devastating for victims nearing or in retirement. Some of the stories we hear are absolutely heartbreaking.”
“The actual losses are likely considerably higher than reported,” said Andrew McCormack, Assistant U.S. Attorney and Elder Justice Coordinator for the District of Maine. “For a variety of reasons, older individuals are often hesitant to report when they’ve been scammed. While it is normal to feel embarrassed when you’ve been tricked, it is important to remember that the criminals who take advantage of people are absolute pros at what they do. Older Americans are not the only victims – people of all ages and backgrounds fall prey to scams every day – but after a lifetime of saving and perhaps not being online as often and therefore as current on recent scams, they are a common, and frankly favorite, target for some of the most insidious types of fraud.”
The informational materials were created by the U.S. Attorney’s Office with assistance from the Maine Council for Elder Abuse Prevention. The materials will include common signs of scams as well as information about the National Elder Fraud Hotline.
“We are grateful to all the organizations that have worked together to make this program possible. Our collective aim is to reduce the number of people in Maine who are victimized by these cruel schemes,” said U.S. Attorney McElwee. “Sadly, there are always going to be criminals who try to take advantage and steal your hard-earned money. Recognizing red flags can help prevent you, or someone you love, from becoming a victim.”
For information about the Maine Rx Elder Fraud Program, email [email protected] or call the U.S. Attorney’s Office at 207-780-3257.
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Washington State Man Pleads Guilty to Advertising Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Kent, Washington man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Portland to advertising child pornography.
According to court records, earlier this year, agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Portland, Maine were investigating a site on the dark web dedicated to the sexual abuse of children. During the investigation, HSI agents observed a profile, later identified as belonging to Michael Posey, 49, that held a moderator position and was responsible for approving posts submitted by others. The profile included a password that individuals could use for any files/links provided by the user. A review of the profile’s history revealed a history of postings that dated back to December 2021. Agents logged into the site, reviewed a post made by Posey regarding a collection of 70 videos of child sexual abuse, and accessed a zipped file containing numerous videos including young children. In April 2024, HSI agents executed a search warrant at Posey’s residence in Kent, Washington. During the interview, Posey confirmed he used the profile on the dark web site and provided agents with his login information.
Posey faces 15–30 years in prison followed by five years to life of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
HSI investigated the case.
To report an incident involving the possession, distribution, receipt or production of child pornography: Child sexual abuse material – in legal terms, "child pornography” – captures the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. These images document victims’ exploitation and abuse, and they suffer revictimization every time the images are shared or viewed. File a report with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at https://report.cybertip.org or 1-800-843-5678. If you are in Maine and you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted or abused, you can get help by calling the free, private 24-hour statewide sexual assault helpline at 1-800-871-7741.
Project Safe Childhood: This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psc.
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Portland Man Sentenced to 2 ½ Years, Ordered to Pay $32,564 in Restitution for Bank Fraud, Identity TheftRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Portland man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft.
U.S. District Judge Nancy Torresen sentenced Paul Logugune, 22, to 30 months in prison to be followed by three years supervised release and ordered him to pay $32,564 in restitution. Logugune pleaded guilty on May 1, 2024.
According to court records, from May to June 2022, Logugune and a coconspirator broke into unattended vehicles and stole purses and wallets to obtain driver’s licenses and checkbooks. Forged checks were then drawn on the stolen checkbooks and made payable to the names on the stolen licenses. They then recruited others to cash the forged checks at multiple credit union branches in Cumberland County using the stolen IDs to impersonate the ID theft victims.
The FBI investigated the case.
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Massachusetts Man Sentenced to 3 Years for Supplying Drug Trafficking Biddeford Couple with FentanylRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Massachusetts man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for possessing fentanyl with intent to distribute.
U.S. District Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. sentenced Darwin Mateo, 25, to 36 months imprisonment to be followed by three years of supervised release. Mateo pleaded guilty on March 1, 2024.
According to court records, in August 2023, law enforcement encountered Mateo while executing a search warrant at the Biddeford residence of Michael and Jessica Bolster. Investigators discovered two large bundles of a mixture or substance containing fentanyl inside the residence. One bundle was located inside a backpack in a locked bedroom. The other bundle was discovered hidden at the bottom of the stairwell, a few inches from where investigators located Mateo. Each bundle contained numerous individual baggies, totaling approximately 541 grams. Mateo admitted to investigators that the backpack was his, and that he had traveled from Massachusetts to Maine to distribute the fentanyl.
Michael Bolster, 48, pleaded guilty on January 18, 2024, for his role in the trafficking conspiracy and faces 5-40 years in prison. Jessica Bolster, 43, pleaded guilty on February 21, 2024, and faces up to 20 years. They will each be sentenced after the completion of presentence investigative reports by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentences after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case.
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Old Town Man Sentenced to 3 Years for Possessing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: An Old Town man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Bangor for possessing child pornography of a child under 12.
Chief U.S. District Judge Lance E. Walker sentenced Matthew Podlaski, 40, to 36 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $58,000 in restitution.
According to court records, between October and December 2022, Podlaski searched the internet for and downloaded images of the sexual abuse of young children, storing the images on multiple devices. Investigators seized 14 devices belonging to him, including laptop computers, flash drives and external storage devices. He pleaded guilty on May 9, 2024.
Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case.
To report an incident involving the possession, distribution, receipt, or production of child pornography: Child sexual abuse material – in legal terms, "child pornography” – captures the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. These images document victims’ exploitation and abuse, and they suffer revictimization every time the images are shared or viewed. File a report with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at https://report.cybertip.org or 1-800-843-5678. If you are in Maine and you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted or abused, you can get help by calling the free, private 24-hour statewide sexual assault helpline at 1-800-871-7741.
Project Safe Childhood: This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psc.
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Berwick Man Sentenced to 7 ½ Years for Fentanyl and Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Berwick man was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Portland today for distributing, and possessing with intent to distribute, methamphetamine and fentanyl.
U.S. District Judge Nancy Torresen sentenced Bo Rodden, 34, to 90 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Rodden pleaded guilty on November 30, 2023.
According to court records, in January and February of 2023, Rodden sold fentanyl and methamphetamine to a confidential source. On February 14, 2023, a police officer stopped Rodden’s vehicle in Lebanon, Maine. He possessed five bags containing a total of approximately 49 grams of fentanyl and two bags containing a total of approximately 150 grams of methamphetamine.
The FBI, Strafford (NH) County Sheriff’s Office and York County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
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Maine Man Pleads Guilty to Harassing and Threatening Woman and Her Family MembersRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Maine man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Bangor to one count of making repeated phone calls with the intent to harass and one count of transmitting a threatening interstate communication.
According to court records, from mid-July to early August 2023, Angelo Castigliola, 44, formerly of Biddeford, repeatedly called and texted the victim, including calling her 57 times and leaving her nine voicemails. He also sent the victim 40 text messages on one day alone. These repeated communications were harassing in nature. In the communications, Castigliola repeatedly threatened to harm an individual with whom he believed the victim had a relationship, and repeatedly referenced the victim’s minor child. On July 28, 2023, Castigliola also made several telephone calls to the victim’s mother, often disguising his phone number, leaving two voicemails. In one voicemail, Castigliola threatened to kill three of her family members including the victim, and to rape two minor children. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is limiting identifying information to protect the victims’ privacy.
Castigliola faces up to two years imprisonment and a maximum fine of $250,000 for making repeated harassing phone calls and up to five years and a maximum fine of $250,000 for transmitting a threatening interstate communication. Any sentence would be followed by up to three years of supervised release. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI investigated the case.
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Linneus Man Pleads Guilty to Role in Penobscot and Aroostook County Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Linneus man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Bangor for his role in a conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl.
According to court records, between January 2018 and December 2021, James Valiante, 42, and others trafficked methamphetamine and fentanyl in Penobscot and Aroostook counties and elsewhere. Valiante, a drug dealer in Aroostook County, participated in the conspiracy by regularly obtaining quantities of drugs from his source of supply in the Bangor area.
Valiante faces 10 years to life in prison and a maximum fine of $10 million to be followed by up to five years of supervised release. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Twenty-one defendants have been charged in this and related cases for their part in the northern Maine drug trafficking conspiracy. To date, 10 of the defendants have been sentenced and nine have pleaded guilty:
Sentenced:
- Andrew Adams (32, Aroostook County) – 10 years
- Wayne Smith (33, Bangor) – 85 months
- Danielle McBreairty (34, Glenburn) – 20 years
- Blaine Footman (38, Bangor) – 5 years
- Nicole Footman (41, Holden) – 3 years
- Dwight Gary, Jr. (54, Medway) – Time served
- Matthew Catalano (38, Penobscot County) – 165 months
- Thomas Hammond (26, Charleston) – 84 months
- Christopher Coty (44, Bangor) – 4 years
- James King (55, Caribou) – 165 months
Pleaded Guilty:
- Sarah McBreairty (36, Dixmont)
- John Miller (23, Caribou)
- Shelby Loring (29, Bangor)
- Joshua Young (48, Presque Isle)
- Joshua Jerrell (30, Orrington)
- Carol Gordon (53, Bangor)
- Jason Cunrod (42, Caribou)
- Aaron Rodgers (43, Bangor)
- James Valiante, 42 (Linneus)
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and Maine Drug Enforcement Agency investigated the case. Assistance was provided by the police departments in Orono, Bangor, Brewer, Caribou, Presque Isle and Houlton. U.S. Attorney Darcie McElwee also recognized the cooperation and coordination provided by the Maine State Attorney General’s Office and the Aroostook County District Attorney’s Office.
Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces: This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
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Conspiracy Hatched over Instagram Leads to Massachusetts Man’s Guilty Plea for Firearms TheftRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A West Springfield, Massachusetts man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Bangor to conspiring to steal firearms from a federally licensed firearms dealer and stealing firearms from that dealer.
According to court records, in April 2022, Ryan Ansart, 22, and coconspirator Damiean Marcial-Alexander, 21, of Waterville broke into a Waterville firearms dealer and stole multiple firearms, including a Glock, Model 17 Gen5 9mm pistol and a Smith & Wesson .38 special revolver. According to an ATF Theft/Loss Report submitted by the store owner, 15 firearms in all were reported stolen, six revolvers and nine semi-automatic pistols. Evidence collected included Instagram and text messages planning the theft, including a map to the location from Marcial-Alexander’s apartment, as well as photos of the two men holding some of the stolen firearms.
Ansart faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine followed by up to three years of supervised release. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Marcial-Alexander pleaded guilty on May 30, 2024, and also faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine followed by up to three years of supervised release.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) investigated the case with assistance from the Waterville Police Department.
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Durham Man with Previous Conviction for Domestic Violence Pleads Guilty to Possessing Multiple FirearmsRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Durham man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Portland to being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm.
According to court records, on April 9, 2024, a deputy from the Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Office served Richard Leblond, 51, with a temporary protection from abuse order. The deputy explained that as part of the order, Leblond was required to relinquish any firearms in his possession. Leblond informed the deputy that he possessed several firearms and consented to a search of his residence. During the search, investigators located multiple handguns, pistols, rifles and shotguns, all of which were recovered from two gun safes inside the residence. Further investigation revealed that Leblond had a 2009 conviction for a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, which precluded him from possessing any firearms.
Leblond faces up to 15 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000. Any sentence would be followed by up to three years of supervised release. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Leblond will also forfeit the firearms seized.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) investigated the case with assistance from the Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Office.
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Reports of Shots Fired Lead to Guilty Plea from Portland Man for Illegal Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Portland man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Portland to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court records, on November 23, 2023, the Portland Police Department received reports of shots fired near the intersection of Commercial Street and Cross Street. The caller described the suspect pulling a firearm from his waistband and firing two shots into the air and provided a description of the vehicle. The description was later confirmed by video from a security camera located on a nearby building. Responding officers recovered two spent 9mm shell casings from the scene, and the vehicle was intercepted by South Portland police as it crossed the bridge into South Portland. After a brief attempt to flee, Mohamud Abdullahi, 31, was arrested. The firearm used in the shooting was recovered the next day from the front lawn of a residence near where the vehicle had been stopped.
Abdullahi’s previous convictions in Cumberland County Superior Court, including for assault and aggravated criminal trespass in 2017 and unlawful trafficking of scheduled drugs in 2011, preclude him from possessing firearms. He faces up to 15 years imprisonment and a maximum fine of $250,000. Any sentence would be followed by up to three years of supervised release. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI, Portland Police Department, and South Portland Police Department investigated the case.
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California Man Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A California man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Portland to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
According to court records, in March 2022, Lonnel Diggs (aka “Cash,” “Cashiioso Runzitup”), 40, of Van Nuys, Calif. and a co-conspirator proposed to a couple who purchased crack cocaine from Diggs that they purchase firearms in exchange for cash and crack cocaine. The couple agreed to make straw purchases and began traveling to gun shows and gun stores in Maine on the men’s behalf. At one of the gun shows, Diggs took photos of firearms and texted the images to the couple, who then made the purchases and provided him with the firearms.
Diggs was convicted in California for robbery in 2003 and for assault with a dangerous weapon on a peace officer in 2010 and is therefore precluded from possessing any firearms. He faces up to 10 years imprisonment and a maximum fine of $250,000. Any sentence would be followed by up to three years of supervised release. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case with assistance from the Lewiston Police Department.
STRAW PURCHASING: A straw purchase is an illegal firearm purchase where the actual buyer of the gun, being unable to pass the required federal background check or desiring to not have his or her name associated with the transaction, uses a proxy buyer who can pass the required background check to purchase the firearm for him/her.
Project Safe Neighborhoods: This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psn.
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Probation Check Leads to Guilty Plea After Convicted Felon Found in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Lewiston man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Portland to being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm.
According to court records, on March 15, 2024, law enforcement conducted a probation check and interview with Bret Binette, 19, at his Lewiston residence. When law enforcement arrived at the residence, they saw Binette operating a motor vehicle. A search of that vehicle revealed a 9mm pistol and subsequent investigation established that Binette knowingly possessed that firearm. Binette is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to a 2023 conviction in Androscoggin County Superior Court for criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon.
Binette faces up to 15 years imprisonment and a maximum fine of $250,000. Any sentence would be followed by up to three years of supervised release. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Lewiston Police Department investigated the case.
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Lewiston Man Pleads Guilty to Armed Robbery of Saco Convenience StoreRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Lewiston man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Portland to interference with commerce by robbery.
According to court records, in September 2021, Max Gbetibouo, 30, entered a Saco convenience store brandishing a weapon and demanded money from the register. The store clerk complied, and Gbetibouo fled the store on foot. The robbery was captured on surveillance video.
Gbetibouo faces up to 20 years imprisonment and a maximum fine of $250,000. Any sentence would be followed by up to three years of supervised release. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The multicolored 1911 firearm Gbetibouo used to threaten the store’s employee during the commission of the robbery was recovered and will be forfeited.
The Saco Police Department investigated the case.
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Sedgwick Man Faces up to 60 Years in Prison for Producing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Sedgwick man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Bangor to producing child sexual abuse material.
According to court records, in May 2021, Travis Bessey, 29, participated in a Kik chat room dedicated to the distribution of child sexual abuse material. A Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agent monitoring the chat observed a user, later identified as Bessey, share images of an adult man sexually abusing young children. The U.S. Attorney’s Office does not identify victims of crime and is limiting identifying information, including gender, age and location, to protect the minor victims’ privacy. The Maine State Police and HSI executed a search warrant at Bessey’s residence. During the investigation, Bessey admitted to sending and receiving child sexual abuse material in the Kik group, and images of Bessey sexually abusing children were recovered from his phone.
Bessey faces 15-30 years in prison on each of the two counts, a fine up to $250,000 and mandatory restitution to the victims. Any sentence would be followed by a minimum of five years of supervised release.
HSI investigated the case with assistance from the Maine State Police.
To report an incident involving the possession, distribution, receipt or production of child pornography: Child sexual abuse material – referred to in legal term as "child pornography" – captures the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. These images document victims’ exploitation and abuse, and they suffer revictimization every time the images are viewed. In 2023, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children received 36 million reports of the possession, manufacture, or distribution of child sexual abuse materials. To file a report with NCMEC, go to https://report.cybertip.org or call 1-800-843-5678. If you are in Maine and you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted or abused, you can get help by calling the free, private 24-hour statewide sexual assault helpline at 1-800-871-7741.
Project Safe Childhood: This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psc.
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“Host Ukraine” Executive Director Ordered to Pay $172,158 in Restitution for Fraudulently Obtaining Visas, Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Kentucky woman was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for conspiracy to commit visa fraud and tax evasion.
U.S. District Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. ordered Colleen Holt-Thompson, 58, to pay $172,158.79 in restitution and sentenced her to probation for three years. Holt-Thompson pleaded guilty on January 29, 2024.
According to court records, Holt-Thompson founded Host Ukraine in 2015 in Newport, Kentucky and served as the non-profit’s executive director. The organization brought children living in orphanages in Ukraine to stay with American families for short periods over the summer or winter holidays. As part of the program, Host Ukraine was required to have the permission of the Ministry of Social Policy in Ukraine to transport each child, and the name and address of a hosting family was required before permission would be granted. Once permission was granted, the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine would issue a non-immigrant visa to the child. The Ministry’s approval was a prerequisite to the issuance of the visas.
Between 2015 and 2019, Thompson applied for and received Ministry hosting permission for 828 U.S. non-immigrant visas for Ukrainian children. To obtain the visas, Holt-Thompson would provide placeholder names – names and addresses of American families who had not actually agreed to serve as hosts – when she submitted names of Ukrainian children to the Ministry. Before the children traveled to the U.S., she would find actual host families for each child. During the period of the conspiracy, a coconspirator who lived in Maine and was the Northeast contact for Host Ukraine was responsible for identifying placeholder families in Maine and recruiting families to serve as actual host families for the Ukrainian children who traveled to the U.S. on fraudulently obtained visas.
Host families were charged a $3,000 fee to host a child, and Host Ukraine also collected donations. In 2016, Holt-Thompson spent approximately $127,610 in personal expenses and paid for those expenses from Host Ukraine’s checking account or paid personal credit card bills using Host Ukraine’s checking account. The money spent on personal expenses was not reported as income on the tax return Holt-Thompson and her husband filed. Holt-Thompson reported her taxable income for that year as only $47,226. In addition, Holt-Thompson failed to file a tax return for Host Ukraine.
The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Diplomatic Security and IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case.
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Recorded Sale of Fentanyl Leads to 7-Year Sentence for Portland Drug DealerRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Portland man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for distributing methamphetamine and fentanyl, and possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute.
U.S. District Judge Nancy Torresen sentenced Tyler Campbell, 39, to 84 months in prison followed by four years of supervised release. He was also ordered to forfeit $2,189 in drug proceeds found in his possession at the time of his arrest. Campbell pleaded guilty on February 15, 2024.
According to court records, in February 2023, a cooperating source made arrangements with Campbell to purchase methamphetamine. U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) testing later revealed that the 84 grams of methamphetamine purchased was 100% pure. DEA investigators directed the source to arrange another buy. During this second transaction, Campbell sold the source 99.2 grams of fentanyl. Both transactions were recorded and filmed. Campbell was carrying additional drugs at the time of his arrest, including 142.6 grams of pure methamphetamine, as well as drug paraphernalia and a large amount of cash.
The DEA investigated the case.
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Bomb Threat Sent via Bank’s Pneumatic Tube Leads to Guilty Plea for Bank Robber from WestbrookRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Westbrook man pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Portland to bank robbery.
According to court records, on January 26, 2024, Jason Arsenault, 41, pulled up to the drive‑through window of a South Portland bank wearing a black winter hat, sunglasses and a black mask covering his face. Using the pneumatic tube, he passed a note to the teller that read, “CAR BOMB No Cops Alarms or WE ALL DIE $50,000 in 20’s.” The teller placed some money in the pneumatic tube, and Arsenault took the funds and drove away. Using multiple surveillance cameras, investigators were able to trace the vehicle’s movements and capture an image of Arsenault’s face, leading to his identification. Six days following the robbery, Arsenault was arrested in Portland, and he confessed to the robbery and directed investigators to the money hidden in a backpack in Baxter Woods in Portland.
Arsenault faces up to 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000, followed by up to three years of supervised release. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI investigated the case with assistance from the South Portland and Portland police departments.
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Pittston Man Sentenced to 1.5 Years in Prison for Accessing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Pittston man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Bangor for accessing child pornography with intent to view.
Chief U.S. District Judge Lance E. Walker sentenced Robert Brandt, 39, to 18 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $18,000 in restitution. Brandt pleaded guilty on January 26, 2024.
According to court records, between October 2022 and October 2023, Brandt accessed computer files that contained child sexual abuse material. He did so by frequenting a pornography-oriented website where he knew internet addresses for child pornography would be posted. He followed links until he reached the files he targeted. The images and videos he accessed showed children under the age of 12 begin sexually abused by adult men.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) investigated the case.
To report an incident involving the possession, distribution, receipt or production of child pornography: Child sexual abuse material – referred to in legal term as "child pornography" – captures the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. These images document victims’ exploitation and abuse, and they suffer revictimization every time the images are viewed. In 2023, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children received 36 million reports of the possession, manufacture, or distribution of child sexual abuse materials. To file a report with NCMEC, go to https://report.cybertip.org or call 1-800-843-5678. If you are in Maine and you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted or abused, you can get help by calling the free, private 24-hour statewide sexual assault helpline at 1-800-871-7741.
Project Safe Childhood: This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psc.
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New Jersey Man Pleads Guilty to Robbing Two U.S. Postal Carriers at Knife Point, Burglarizing Two Post OfficesRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: An Orange, New Jersey man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Portland to burglarizing two Maine post offices and robbing at knifepoint two U.S. Postal Service (USPS) letter carriers.
According to court records, during a one-week period in January 2024, Winston McLeod, 30, and a coconspirator broke into the Paris and North Monmouth post offices and stole money order printers, mail, computers, post office box keys, and other items. The two men then robbed two Lewiston postal carriers in quick succession on January 20, 2024, threatening to stab each of them with a knife unless they turned over their postal keys.
The two men were arrested by law enforcement following a traffic stop. A search of the occupants and the vehicle, a white Jeep that matched a vehicle seen in videos from each crime scene, revealed a black butterfly knife, black ski mask, large sums of cash, and several checks determined to have been stolen from the Paris post office. When responding to the Paris location, Postal Inspectors also found two iPhones in the snow directly beneath the broken window used to access the post office. Investigators were able to identify McLeod through a photo of him on the lock screen of one of the phones. Law enforcement recovered additional stolen items at and near the address where the two men had been staying.
McLeod faces up to five years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000 on one charge of conspiracy to rob postal carriers and burgle a U.S. Post Office and two charges of burglary of a post office. He faces up to 25 years imprisonment and a maximum fine of $250,000 on each of two charges of robbery of a postal carrier. Any sentence will be followed by up to five years of supervised release. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated the case, with assistance from FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force and the Rumford, Lewiston, Paris and Monmouth police departments.
“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is committed to keeping the U.S. Mail, its employees, and customers safe. Today’s plea is the culmination of exceptional teamwork between our local and federal law enforcement partners. The swift response by responding officers and their ongoing support were instrumental in making this a successful investigation,” said Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division. “Ensuring the safety of our employees is a top priority, Postal Inspectors will continue to thoroughly investigate any robberies of our employees and burglaries of our facilities.”
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Updated 07/23/24 to correct Winston McLeod's current age
North Berwick Man Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud for Applying for PPP Loans for Travel Agency He No Longer OwnedRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A North Berwick man pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Portland today to filing fraudulent applications for loans from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).
According to court records, between April 2020 and September 2021, Frederick Avery, 49, submitted two applications for PPP loans that claimed he was the 100% owner of Superior Cruise and Travel LLC. Avery sold the agency to a limited liability company in Pennsylvania in November 2019. He claimed on the applications that the loans, which totaled more than $215,000, were for payroll, lease/mortgage interest, utilities, and other items. Avery submitted falsified bank statements from a non-existent account to support one of the applications.
Avery faces up to 30 years imprisonment and a maximum fine of $1 million, followed by up to five years of supervised release. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI investigated the case.
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP): The PPP was a COVID-19 pandemic relief program administered by the Small Business Administration (SBA) that provided forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses. The PPP permitted participating third-party lenders to approve and disburse SBA-backed PPP loans to cover payroll, fixed debts, utilities, rent/mortgage, accounts payable and other bills incurred by qualifying businesses during, and resulting from, the COVID-19 pandemic. PPP loans were fully guaranteed by the SBA.
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Lowell, Mass. Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal Prison for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Lowell, Massachusetts man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for distributing and possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine and conspiring to distribute and possess methamphetamine.
U.S. District Judge Nancy Torresen sentenced Angel Luis Lozano, 27, to 60 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. Lozano pleaded guilty on February 15, 2024.
According to court records, in November 2022, an undercover officer arranged to purchase two pounds of methamphetamine from Mandy Shorey, 43, of Peru, Maine. Lozano traveled from Massachusetts to Maine with at least 938.4 grams of methamphetamine to provide to Shorey. In January 2023, the agent again arranged to purchase two pounds of methamphetamine, and Lozano traveled with other coconspirators from Massachusetts and delivered approximately 459.3 grams of methamphetamine.
Mandy Shorey pleaded guilty on April 18, 2024, to distributing and possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine, conspiring to distribute and possess methamphetamine, and using a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. She faces a minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison, and a fine of up to $10 million followed by supervised release for at least five years and up to life for the two drug charges. She faces a minimum sentence of five years and a fine of up to $250,000 on the firearms charge. She will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI investigated the case.
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South Portland Man Sentenced to 2+ Years for Possessing a Firearm After Domestic Violence ConvictionRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A South Portland man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for possessing a firearm after being convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.
Chief U.S. District Judge John D. Levy sentenced Willie Richard Minor, 63, to the two years, eight months, and ten days he had served before an earlier conviction was vacated.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, in June 2010, Minor was convicted in Maine Superior Court of domestic violence. The U.S. Attorney’s Office does not identify victims of crime and is limiting identifying information to protect the victim’s privacy. As a result of that conviction, Minor was prohibited by federal law from possessing firearms and ammunition. In November 2016, Minor admitted to having a gun in an interview with the Auburn Police Department. The police recovered the gun from his apartment in Auburn.
Minor was originally convicted and sentenced on the federal charge after a trial in December 2017. While the case was pending on appeal, the Supreme Court of the United States issued a decision, Rehaif v. United States, that changed what the government is required to prove in certain federal firearm possession cases. As a result, the parties agreed to have the original conviction vacated, and the case was remanded for a new trial. Minor was again convicted after a trial in February 2020, and in September 2020, he was sentenced to time served and three years of supervised release.
In March 2023, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit found that the jury had been incorrectly instructed in Minor’s second trial. The Court of Appeals clarified what the government is required to prove under the Supreme Court’s Rehaif decision, leading to the third trial. Minor was again found guilty by a federal jury following a two-day trial in April 2024.
“This office will continue to prioritize prosecutions against those convicted of domestic violence who illegally possess firearms,” said U.S. Attorney Darcie N. McElwee. “Anyone convicted of abuse – and those they choose to victimize – should understand that illegal gun possession by domestic abusers will not be tolerated.”
The Auburn Police Department; Maine State Police Crime Laboratory; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and FBI investigated the case.
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Sentences Handed Down for Multi-Year Scheme to Subvert Commercial Fishing RegulationsRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: Eight men from Maine and one from New Hampshire – comprised of the owner, captains, and crew members of a commercial fishing vessel, the Western Sea, and owners of local Maine fisheries – have been sentenced for knowingly subverting commercial fishing reporting requirements. The final six sentences in the complex case were handed down this week by U.S. District Judge Jon D. Levy in U.S. District Court in Portland.
The Western Sea is a fishing vessel that operated out of Rockland and fished for Atlantic herring. Atlantic herring is the primary bait fish for Maine’s lobster industry. Operators of fishing vessels in the Atlantic herring fishery must comply with restrictions on fishing areas, seasonal access, gear usage, and limits on the quantity or weight of fish caught. To ensure a sustainable fishery for a particular species, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has authority to set quotas and catch limits for commercial fishing vessels, and the vessels must complete a Fishing Vessel Trip Report (FVTR) at the end of each fishing trip reporting all species caught, the weight of each catch, and the dealers to whom the catch is sold.
According to court records, from June 2016 through September 2019, members of the Western Sea crew conspired to submit false FVTRs to NOAA. The Western Sea, acting through its owner, captains, and crew, sold Atlantic herring to purchasers who paid the crew directly via check or cash, including to some purchasers that were not federally permitted dealers of Atlantic herring. Members of the crew received shares of this money at the end of fishing weeks. Some sales were of unreported Atlantic herring, including when the vessel landed more than the quantity of herring allowed under weekly catch limits. False FVTRs were submitted to NOAA to conceal the conduct and Western Sea, Inc. issued inaccurate 1099 forms to crew members that failed to report all income.
>Sentenced this week:
- Glenn Robbins (77, Eliot; Owner Western Sea, Inc. & Captain R. Herring; Captain of the Western Sea)
- Pleaded guilty on 03/11/24 to conspiracy to submit false information to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce and his/her designees regarding the catch and sale of Atlantic herring and failure to pay taxes.
- Sentenced on 07/11/24 to 2 years of probation, $25,000 fine.
- Western Sea, Inc. (Eliot)
- Pleaded guilty on 03/11/24 to falsification of records.
- Sentenced on 07/11/24 to 2 years of probation, $175,000 fine.
- Jason Parent (51, Owls Head; Crew member)
- Pleaded guilty on 03/11/24 to conspiracy to submit false information to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce and his/her designees regarding the catch and sale of Atlantic herring and failure to pay taxes.
- Sentenced on 07/10/24 to 2 years of probation, $2,000 fine, 50 hours of community service, restitution of $28,685.58.
- Stephen Little (59, Warren; Crew member)
- Pleaded guilty on 03/11/24 to conspiracy to submit false information to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce and his/her designees regarding the catch and sale of Atlantic herring and failure to pay taxes.
- Sentenced on 07/10/24 to 2 years of probation, $42,834.93 restitution.
- Neil Herrick (48, Rockland; Crew member)
- Pleaded guilty on 03/11/24 to conspiracy to submit false information to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce and his/her designees regarding the catch and sale of Atlantic herring and failure to pay taxes.
- Sentenced on 07/10/24 to 2 years of probation, 50 hours of community service, $32,889.43 restitution.
- Ethan Chase (46, Portsmouth, NH; Part-time captain of the Western Sea)
- Pleaded guilty on 03/11/24 to conspiracy to submit false information to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce and his/her designees regarding the catch and sale of Atlantic herring and failure to pay taxes.
- Sentenced on 07/09/24 to 2 years of probation, 50 hours of community service, $2,000 fine, $39,289.39 restitution.
Previously sentenced:
- Glenn Lawrence (70, Owls Head; Owner of fishing/transport vessel the Double Eagle)
- Pleaded guilty on 11/07/23 to unlawful purchase of fish in interstate commerce, and aiding and abetting (Lacey Act Violation).
- Sentenced on 05/03/24 to 2 years of probation, $9,500 fine, 50 hours community service.
- Duston Reed (42, Waldoboro; Owner New Moon Fisheries, Inc.)
- Pleaded guilty on 12/27/23 to unlawful purchase of fish in interstate commerce, and aiding and abetting (Lacey Act Violation).
- Sentenced on 04/29/24 to 2 years of probation, $25,000 fine, 100 hours community service.
- New Moon Fisheries, Inc. (Friendship)
- Pleaded guilty on 12/27/23 to unlawful purchase of fish in interstate commerce, and aiding and abetting (Lacey Act Violation).
- Sentenced on 04/29/24 to 2 years of probation, $15,000 fine.
- Samuel Olsen (73, Cushing; Owner Sam’s Seafood LLC)
- Pleaded guilty on 10/17/23 to unlawful purchase of fish in interstate commerce, and aiding and abetting (Lacey Act Violation).
- Sentenced on 04/12/24 to 1 year of probation, $9,500 fine, 50 hours community service.
- Andrew Banow (37, Rockport; Crew member)
- Pleaded guilty on 03/14/24 to conspiracy to submit false information to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce and his/her designees regarding the catch and sale of Atlantic herring and failure to pay taxes.
- Sentenced on 04/12/24 to 1 year of probation, $1,000 fine, $20,177 restitution.
“Atlantic herring is a vital resource in Maine, particularly to the thousands of people involved in the lobster industry in the state. Led by Glenn Robbins and Western Sea, the defendants in this case subverted regulations for the sole purpose of lining their own wallets – regulations that are in place to ensure Atlantic herring are not overfished and are available for future generations of fishermen and safeguard the viability of the marine ecosystem,” said U.S. Attorney Darcie N. McElwee. “I commend the investigators on this case, including those from NOAA, for their efforts to ensure the sustainable management of an industry so vital to all that is Maine.”
“Protecting our nation's honest fishermen is, and will always be, a top priority for NOAA. Egregious acts that undermine the sustainable management of our fisheries resources and steal from those in the industry who follow the rules will not be tolerated,” said Michael Henry, Assistant Director for NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement's Northeast Division.
“The sentencing of all involved with the Western Sea investigations sends a powerful message to the commercial fishing industry,” said IRS CI Special Agent in Charge Harry T. Chavis Jr. “This investigation demonstrates IRS-CI’s commitment to investigating and prosecuting all those that violate the U.S. Tax Code, no matter who they are.”
NOAA, IRS – Criminal Investigation, and the Maine Marine Patrol investigated the case.
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*Updated 07/12/24 to correct fine amount for defendant Glenn Lawrence
- Glenn Robbins (77, Eliot; Owner Western Sea, Inc. & Captain R. Herring; Captain of the Western Sea)
Convicted Felon from Carroll Plantation Sentenced to 15 Months after Loaded Firearm Recovered During ArrestRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Carroll Plantation man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Bangor for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Chief U.S. District Judge Lance E. Walker sentenced Jason Levasseur, 48, to 15 months time served to be followed by three years of supervised release.
According to court records, in November 2022, a Maine State Police trooper arrested Levasseur for a state probation revocation after recognizing his pickup truck at a gas station in Danforth. The trooper ordered Levasseur to get on the ground and restrained him. The trooper removed a sheathed knife from Levasseur’s belt and asked whether he was carrying a gun. Levasseur indicated there was a firearm in the truck, and the officer retrieved a .458-caliber rifle wrapped in a blanket from the backseat. The rifle had two rounds in the magazine and one round in the chamber.
Levasseur is precluded from possessing firearms due to multiple prior convictions including three state convictions for illegal possession of a firearm.
The Maine State Police and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case.
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Portland Man Faces 10+ Years to Life for Enticement of a Minor, Possession of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Portland man pleaded guilty on Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Portland to enticing a minor and possessing child sexual abuse material.
According to court records, in December 2022, Joshua Decker, 36, met the 16-year-old victim in an online chat forum and began regularly communicating with them despite knowing the victim was a minor. In April 2023, the conversations became graphic and sexual, and Decker discussed traveling to meet the victim. The U.S. Attorney’s Office does not identify victims of crime and is limiting identifying information, including gender and location, to protect the minor victim’s privacy. In July 2023, the Portland Police Department executed a search warrant on Decker’s vehicle and person, recovering a tablet. Examination of the tablet revealed child sexual abuse material. Decker was convicted in Androscoggin County Criminal Court in 2018 for possession of sexually explicit material of a minor under 12.
Decker faces no less than 10 years and up to life in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000 on the enticement charge and 10–20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 on the possession of child pornography charge. Any sentence would be followed by five years to life of supervised release. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) investigated the case with assistance from the Portland Police Department.
Online enticement is increasing: The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) reported an alarming 300% increase in online enticement reports between 2020 and 2023. “Online enticement” involves an individual communicating with someone believed to be a child via the internet with the intent to commit a sexual offense or abduction. This type of victimization takes place across every platform, including social media, messaging apps, gaming platforms, etc. Learn more about online enticement, including red flags and risk factors, at https://www.missingkids.org/theissues/onlineenticement. If you are in Maine and you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted or abused, you can get help by calling the free, private 24-hour statewide sexual assault helpline at 1-800-871-7741.
Project iGuardian program available to Maine communities: The Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) program Project iGuardian is focused on keeping children and teens safe from online predators through education and awareness. The in-person educational outreach effort was created to share information about the dangers of online environments, how to stay safe online, and how to report abuse and suspicious activity. Schools, parent groups, and other community groups interested in bringing the program to their community can find more information at: https://www.dhs.gov/know2protect/training.
Project Safe Childhood: This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psc.
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Georgia Woman Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud After Stealing $90,000+ from Kennebunk Business over Nearly 2 YearsRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A former resident of Atlanta, Georgia pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Portland to committing wire fraud.
According to court records, from at least November 2019 through October 2021, Alexis Hodges, 39, fraudulently used the bank account of a Kennebunk business to pay expenses for herself, her family members, and her business. Hodges provided the bank account information to multiple vendors, causing more than $90,000 to be electronically paid out of the account to pay her rent, insurance policies, auto loans, and credit card bills, among others, without the victim’s consent or knowledge. In September 2021, the victim discovered that unauthorized payments were occurring and reported it to the Kennebunk Police Department, who referred the case to the U.S. Secret Service New England Cyber Fraud Task Force for investigation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office does not identify victims of crime and is limiting identifying information, including the name and type of business, to protect the victim’s privacy.
Hodges faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine up to the greater of $250,000 or twice the gain or loss.
The U.S. Secret Service investigated the case with assistance from the Kennebunk Police Department.
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Provider Agrees to Pay over $629,000 to Settle Allegations of False Claims Act ViolationsRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: United States Attorney Darcie N. McElwee today announced that Jamie P. Loggins, M.D. has agreed to pay $629,056.76 to settle allegations that he violated the federal False Claims Act (the “FCA”). The civil settlement agreement resolves allegations that Loggins prescribed orthotic braces that were not medically necessary to individuals with whom he had no valid prescriber-patient relationship.
Medicare statutes, regulations and guidelines make clear that participating providers may only bill for services actually provided and which are medically reasonable and necessary. As alleged by the Government, from September 2018 through November 2022, Loggins caused claims to be submitted to Medicare for payment for medical services that were not reasonably medically necessary or for which medical necessity could not be determined. More specifically, the Government alleges that Loggins worked with a telemedicine company to provide telemedicine consultations and consultation services. As part of those services, Loggins would review prepared intake forms, which included purported complaint information for a beneficiary and prepared prescriptions for orthotic braces. Frequently, the intake forms included multiple complaints and prescriptions for orthotic braces for each individual beneficiary. The Government alleges that Dr. Loggins would then electronically sign these prescriptions, despite there being no valid prescriber-patient relationship and no medical necessity for the claims.
The FCA provides that any person who “knowingly presents, or causes to be presented, a false or fraudulent claim for payment or approval” or “knowingly makes, uses, or causes to be made or used, a false record or statement material to a false or fraudulent claim” is liable to the United States for three times the amount of damages which the United States sustains, plus a civil penalty for each FCA violation. The Government alleges that by submitting claims for payment for medical services that were not medically reasonable or necessary, Loggins violated the FCA.
Loggins cooperated with this investigation and did not admit liability in the settlement agreement. Federal authorities encourage health care providers to cooperate with investigations involving the possible submission of false claims to federal programs. Entities or individuals that make proactive, timely and voluntary self-disclosures to the U.S. Attorney’s Office may receive credit during the resolution of a later FCA case.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General investigated the case.
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Doctor Convicted of Unlawful Distribution of Controlled SubstancesRead the Press Release
A federal jury convicted a Maine doctor today for unlawfully distributing controlled substances, including oxycodone, hydromorphone, and fentanyl.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Dr. Merideth Norris, 53, of Kennebunk, distributed controlled substances to patients at her practice without a legitimate medical purpose and outside the usual course of professional practice. Norris prescribed controlled substances despite the fact that some of these patients suffered from opioid use disorder, tested positive for addictive substances that were not prescribed to them, or appeared to be diverting the drugs into the community. Norris was warned about her prescribing on numerous occasions, including by way of pharmacists who refused to fill prescriptions she wrote and letters from an insurance company covering one of her patients. Walmart pharmacies also issued a “central block,” or a nationwide ban, on filling prescriptions written by Norris. When asked by Maine’s Board of Osteopathic Licensure (the “Board”) to justify her prescribing, Norris submitted an incomplete patient file to the Board, and otherwise deceived the Board about her prescribing practices.
The jury convicted Norris of 15 counts of unlawfully distributing controlled substances. She faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Darcie N. McElwee for the District of Maine; Assistant Director Michael Nordwall of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division; Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen of the FBI Boston Division; Assistant Administrator Thomas Prevoznik of the DEA’s Diversion Control Division; and Special Agent in Charge Roberto Coviello of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) Boston Region made the announcement.
The FBI, DEA, and HHS-OIG investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys Thomas Campbell and Danielle Sakowski of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case, with assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Scott for the District of Maine.
The Fraud Section partners with federal and state law enforcement agencies and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country to prosecute medical professionals and others involved in the illegal prescription and distribution of opioids. The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,400 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $27 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the HHS-OIG, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.
Anyone needing access to opioid treatment services can contact HHS-OIG’s Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration 24/7 National Helpline for referrals to treatment services at 1-800-662-4359.
Convicted Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 4 Years After Bangor Police Find Him with a Firearm, Drugs During Traffic StopRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Bangor man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Bangor for being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm and ammunition and to possessing controlled substances with the intent to distribute them.
Chief U.S. District Judge Lance E. Walker sentenced Andrew Blais, 37, to 48 months imprisonment to be followed by three years of supervised release. Blais pleaded guilty on March 15, 2024.
According to court records, in October of 2023, Bangor police officers encountered Blais during a traffic stop and identified an active warrant for his arrest. Officers observed drug paraphernalia in open view in the vehicle and recovered bundles of cash and a loaded handgun on Blais’ person. A further search at the Penobscot County Jail revealed 38 individual bags containing fentanyl concealed underneath his clothing. Blais was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition due to a prior felony drug trafficking conviction.
The Bangor Police Department; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case.
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Buxton Woman Who Stole from Employer for 7+ Years Sentenced for Wire Fraud, Filing a False Tax ReturnRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Buxton woman was sentenced on Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Portland for two counts of wire fraud and one count of making and subscribing a false tax return.
U.S. District Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. sentenced Christine Bangs, 64, to a year plus a day in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Bangs was also ordered to pay $536,352.33 in restitution to her victim and $70,323 to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for taxes on the income derived from the fraud that she failed to report. She was also ordered to forfeit any property, real or personal, which was derived from the proceeds of her crime, including $105,009.53 seized from a bank account in her name.
According to court records, from March 2014 until June 2021, Bangs used her professional position as operations manager and access to her employer’s credit card, bank accounts and payroll for her own personal gain. Bangs used the corporate credit card to make approximately $197,936 in personal purchases, including $12,414.96 for tickets to a New England Patriots vs. Dallas Cowboys game, and stole an additional $255,645 from the victim by making approximately 213 wire transfers over the 7+ years. Of the money Bangs stole, she spent more than $176,000 on entertainment, tickets & dining. The U.S. Attorney’s Office does not identify victims of crime and is therefore not identifying Bangs’ former employer. Bangs omitted $183,386 in income when filing a personal tax return in 2020.
The FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case.
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New York Man Pleads Guilty to Firearms Conspiracy Extending from Maine to New YorkRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Syracuse, New York man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Bangor to being a felon in possession of a firearm and conspiring to violate federal firearms laws.
According to court records, beginning in May 2022, Tyquinn Montell Cannon (aka “Q”), 30, knowingly conspired with others in Maine and New York to illegally obtain firearms at federally licensed firearms dealers (FFLs) in central and southern Maine using straw purchasers. Two of the coconspirators located in Maine would arrange for the straw purchase of firearms, and Cannon would deliver, or arrange the delivery of, the illegally obtained firearms to coconspirators located in New York.
Cannon is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition due to a March 2018 conviction in Illinois for the illegal possession of cocaine.
Cannon faces up to 15 years in prison, a fine up to $250,000 and up to three years of supervised release on the possession of a firearms charge. He faces up to five years imprisonment, a fine not to exceed $250,000 and up to three years of supervised release on the conspiracy charge. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case.
STRAW PURCHASING: A straw purchase is an illegal firearm purchase where the actual buyer of the gun, being unable to pass the required federal background check or desiring to not have his or her name associated with the transaction, uses a proxy buyer who can pass the required background check to purchase the firearm for him/her.
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Dominican National Faces 10+ Years in Prison After East Millinocket Traffic Stop Reveals 113 Grams of Methamphetamine, Other DrugsRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A man from the Dominican Republic pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Bangor to possessing controlled substances with intent to distribute.
According to court records, in November 2023, Lenin Nova-Nova, 42, was a passenger in a vehicle that was stopped by the East Millinocket Police Department due to an issue with the headlights. An officer observed an unnatural bulge under Nova-Nova’s clothing. Nova-Nova identified himself using a false name, and a warrant check of that alias revealed an outstanding warrant for arrest. A search of Nova-Nova’s person revealed $1,305 in cash, four cell phones, and suspected controlled substances wrapped in cellophane. Analysis identified the substances as approximately 113 grams of 100% pure methamphetamine, approximately 19 grams of a substance containing fentanyl, and 57.8 grams of a substance containing cocaine base. Homeland Security Investigations was able to determine Nova-Nova’s identity.
Nova-Nova faces a minimum of 10 years and a maximum of life in federal prison and a fine up to $10 million to be followed by supervised release for up to life. Nova-Nova will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The East Millinocket Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case.
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Penobscot Man Faces 10-20 Years in Prison for Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material Following Guilty VerdictRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Penobscot man was found guilty today of possession of child sexual abuse material. The verdict came after a one-and-a-half-day jury trial in U.S. District Court in Bangor with Judge Lance E. Walker presiding.
According to evidence presented at trial, between May 2013 and April 2023, Kevin Lee Ross, 62, knowingly possessed child sexual abuse material. Ross was on supervised release for a 2014 conviction also for possession of child sexual abuse material when probation officers from Bangor searched his home and vehicle and found a cell phone, laptop computer, and external hard drive that contained child sexual abuse material, including both images and videos. Evidence showed that Ross had possessed the laptop and hard drive prior to serving his federal sentence and had started using the devices again where he was released from prison in 2021.
Ross faces a minimum of 10 years and up to 20 years in prison followed by five years to life of supervised release 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. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations.
To report an incident involving the possession, distribution, receipt or production of child pornography: Child sexual abuse material – referred to in legal terms as "child pornography" – captures the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. These images document victims’ exploitation and abuse, and they suffer revictimization every time the images are viewed. In 2023, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children received 36 million reports of the possession, manufacture, or distribution of child sexual abuse materials. To file a report with NCMEC, go to https://report.cybertip.org or call 1-800-843-5678. If you are in Maine and you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted or abused, you can get help by calling the free, private 24-hour statewide sexual assault helpline at 1-800-871-7741.
Project Safe Childhood: This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psc.
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Westbrook Man Sentenced to 12 ½ Years for Possessing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Westbrook man was sentenced on Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Bangor for possessing child pornography.
Chief U.S. District Judge Lance E. Walker sentenced Michael Peterson, 39, to 150 months in prison followed by 10 years of supervised release.
According to court records, between December 2021 and August 2022, Peterson received and attempted to receive child sexual abuse material using the Telegram application. Peterson received the images from an individual using Telegram and paid the same individual in hopes of obtaining additional images.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Maine State Police investigated the case.
To report an incident involving the possession, distribution, receipt or production of child pornography: Child sexual abuse material – referred to in legal terms as "child pornography" – captures the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. These images document victims’ exploitation and abuse, and they suffer revictimization every time the images are viewed. In 2023, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children received 36 million reports of the possession, manufacture, or distribution of child sexual abuse materials. To file a report with NCMEC, go to https://report.cybertip.org or call 1-800-843-5678. If you are in Maine and you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted or abused, you can get help by calling the free, private 24-hour statewide sexual assault helpline at 1-800-871-7741.
Project Safe Childhood: This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psc.
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Plymouth Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Heroin and Fentanyl Trafficking in Central MaineRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Plymouth man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Bangor for conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.
Chief U.S. District Judge Lance E. Walker sentenced Adam Johnson, 32, to 180 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. Johnson was found guilty by a federal jury following a two-day trial in January 2024.
According to evidence presented at trial, between June 2017 and February 2018, Johnson participated in a conspiracy to traffic fentanyl in central Maine. Johnson would travel out of state to meet the source and pick up heroin and fentanyl that he would then bring back to Maine to package and sell to dealers. The amount of fentanyl exceeded 400 grams. Just 2 milligrams of fentanyl is a potentially lethal dose.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Somerset County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
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Lincoln Woman Sentenced to 79 Days Served, Supervised Release for High-Speed Flight from Immigration CheckpointRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Lincoln woman was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Bangor for fleeing and evading a U.S. immigration checkpoint in Sherman and leading U.S. Border Patrol agents on a high-speed pursuit.
Chief U.S. District Judge Lance E. Walker sentenced Shania England, 25, to the 79 days she had served and three years of supervised release. England pleaded guilty on February 16, 2024.
According to court records, in May 2023, England and a passenger were traveling southbound on I-95, when England drove up to and stopped at a checkpoint being operated by the U.S. Border Patrol in Sherman. When an agent instructed England to pull over to a secondary inspection area, she instead sped away on I-95. England fled from Border Patrol agents at high speed for about eight miles and was apprehended after crashing the vehicle in a ditch.
U.S. Border Patrol investigated the case with assistance from the East Millinocket Police Department.
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Windham Man Faces 5+ Years in Federal Prison for Possession, Distribution of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Windham man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Portland to distribution and possession of child pornography.
According to court records, in October 2023, Cote Noonan, 33, using the username “Femboy Cassidy,” sent an undercover FBI agent three child sexual abuse material videos using the instant messaging application TeleGuard. The videos showed the sexual abuse of young victims, including an infant. The agent also observed “Femboy Cassidy” share similar photos and videos on two other occasions in a trading room for child sexual abuse material. During the investigation, Noonan admitted to operating the “Femboy Cassidy” account and informed law enforcement that they would find child sexual abuse material on his devices. The FBI seized several devices from Noonan’s residence, four of which contained thousands of known child sexual abuse material images and videos. Many of these images and videos showed the sexual abuse of toddlers and infants.
Noonan faces no less than five years and up to 20 years in prison and a fine up to $250,000 on the distribution of child pornography charge, to be followed by five years to life of supervised release. He faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine up to $250,000 on the charge of possession of child pornography involving a prepubescent minor, to be followed by five years to life of supervised release. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI investigated the case.
To report an incident involving the possession, distribution, receipt or production of child pornography: Child sexual abuse material – referred to in legal terms as "child pornography" – captures the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. These images document victims’ exploitation and abuse, and they suffer revictimization every time the images are viewed. In 2023, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children received 36 million reports of the possession, manufacture, or distribution of child sexual abuse materials. To file a report with NCMEC, go to https://report.cybertip.org or call 1-800-843-5678. If you are in Maine and you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted or abused, you can get help by calling the free, private 24-hour statewide sexual assault helpline at 1-800-871-7741.
Project Safe Childhood: This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psc.
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Norway Man Sentenced to 2 Years for PPP Loan FraudRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Norway man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for filing fraudulent applications for loans from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).
U.S. District Judge Nancy Torresen sentenced Merton Weed Jr., 52, to 24 months imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $253,646. Weed pleaded guilty on October 23, 2023.
According to court records, between May 2020 and January 2021, Weed filed eight fraudulent PPP loan applications with four different lenders and received $243,745 in PPP funds. The applications listed false average monthly payrolls and numbers of employees for phony businesses that did not exist. Weed supported the applications with falsified bank records.
The FBI investigated the case.
“Motivated by greed, Merton Weed took advantage of a program intended to help small businesses survive economic uncertainty during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said U.S. Attorney Darcie N. McElwee. “Mr. Weed has a lengthy history of enriching himself through fraud, so it is perhaps not surprising that he made not one but eight attempts to take advantage of a time of international turmoil. The Department of Justice and my office will continue to bring to justice those who, like Mr. Weed, sought to capitalize on an unprecedented crisis to line their own pockets.”
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP): The PPP was a COVID-19 pandemic relief program administered by the Small Business Administration (SBA) that provided forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses. The PPP permitted participating third-party lenders to approve and disburse SBA-backed PPP loans to cover payroll, fixed debts, utilities, rent/mortgage, accounts payable and other bills incurred by qualifying businesses during, and resulting from, the COVID-19 pandemic. PPP loans were fully guaranteed by the SBA.
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Texas Man Faces 10 Years to Life for Online Sexual Exploitation of Maine ChildRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Texas man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Portland to coercing and enticing a minor.
According to court records, in December 2021, Juan Jose Torres, 26, coerced and enticed a 13‑year-old to produce and send him sexually explicit images and videos. Torres had first found the child on Snapchat and sent a friend request. They also communicated through Instagram, text, phone, and FaceTime. Torres knew the victim was 13 years old and sent the child explicit images of himself, pressuring the victim to do the same. He became angry or threatened to harm himself if the victim did not comply. The child’s father intercepted disturbing Instagram messages Torres sent to the victim and notified his local police department in Maine. Numerous sexually explicit images and videos were later found on Torres’ phone in Texas.
Torres faces no less than 10 years and up to life in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000, to be followed by five years to life of supervised release. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) investigated the case.
Online enticement is increasing: The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) reported an alarming 300% increase in online enticement reports between 2020 and 2023. “Online enticement” involves an individual communicating with someone believed to be a child via the internet with the intent to commit a sexual offense or abduction. This type of victimization takes place across every platform, including social media, messaging apps, gaming platforms, etc. Learn more about online enticement, including red flags and risk factors, at https://www.missingkids.org/theissues/onlineenticement. If you are in Maine and you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted or abused, you can get help by calling the free, private 24-hour statewide sexual assault helpline at 1-800-871-7741.
Project iGuardian program available to Maine communities: The Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) program Project iGuardian is focused on keeping children and teens safe from online predators through education and awareness. The in-person educational outreach effort was created to share information about the dangers of online environments, how to stay safe online, and how to report abuse and suspicious activity. Schools, parent groups, and other community groups interested in bringing the program to their community can find more information at: https://www.dhs.gov/know2protect/training.
Project Safe Childhood: This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psc.
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Hancock Man Sentenced for Assaulting FBI Special AgentRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Hancock man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Bangor for assaulting a federal officer.
Chief U.S. District Judge Lance E. Walker sentenced Alan Howell Parrot, 69, to probation for two years and a $5,000 fine. A federal jury found Parrot guilty on November 29, 2023, following a one-day trial.
According to evidence presented at trial, on June 22, 2023, FBI special agents were executing a federal search warrant at Parrot’s residence in Hancock. While the agents were trying to enter the residence, Parrot attempted to close the door and became combative, kicking one agent in the abdomen and pushing her backwards, resulting in injuries to her arm and elbow.
The FBI investigated the case.
“Alan Parrot’s attack on an FBI special agent is yet another reminder of the danger law enforcement officers face on a daily basis – and the successful prosecution of Mr. Parrot should serve as a warning to all that if you assault and injure a law enforcement officer, the consequence is a felony conviction. Assaults on officers will be met with a swift response and will not be tolerated,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division.
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Georgia Man Pleads to Bank Fraud Charge for Stolen Check SchemeRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: An Atlanta, Georgia man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Portland to conspiring to commit bank fraud.
According to court records, in March 2022, Rasheed Colbert, 32, and a coconspirator, Mantavious Jones, stole checks from the mailboxes of local businesses then used the stolen checks to create counterfeit checks. Unhoused individuals who could provide identification were recruited for what they were told was a job in exchange for money. Counterfeit checks were made payable to the individuals, and they were provided with work-style clothing and driven to bank branches to cash the checks. Colbert and Jones netted just under $70,000 from the cashed counterfeit checks.
Rasheed Colbert faces up to 30 years imprisonment and a maximum fine of $1 million, followed by up to five years of supervised release. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Mantavious Jones, 35, also of Atlanta, is currently serving 16 months in prison for his role in the scheme.
The New England Cyber Fraud Task Force and Kennebunk Police Department investigated the case with valuable assistance from the Saco and Scarborough police departments.
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Conspiracy Hatched over Instagram Leads to Waterville Man’s Guilty Plea for Firearms TheftRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Waterville man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Bangor to conspiring to steal firearms from a federally licensed firearms dealer and stealing firearms from that dealer.
According to court records, in April 2022, Damiean Marcial-Alexander, 21, and a coconspirator broke into a Waterville firearms dealer and stole multiple firearms, including a Glock, Model 17 Gen5 9mm pistol and a Smith & Wesson .38 special revolver. According to an ATF Theft/Loss Report submitted by the store owner, 15 firearms in all were reported stolen, six revolvers and nine semi-automatic pistols. Evidence collected included Instagram and text messages planning the theft, including a map to the location from Marcial-Alexander’s apartment, as well as photos of the two men holding some of the stolen firearms.
Marcial-Alexander faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine followed by up to three years of supervised release. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case with assistance from the Waterville Police Department.
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Berwick Woman Pleads Guilty to Yearslong Fraud to Obtain BenefitsRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Berwick woman pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Portland to Social Security fraud.
According to court records, from about December 2008 to February 2020, Suzanne Hercock, 46, lied to the Social Security Administration (SSA) about the presence of her husband, the children’s father, in the household, to fraudulently collect Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments on behalf of her children.
In multiple benefit eligibility reviews, Hercock falsely represented to the SSA that she and her husband lived separately. She failed to disclose her husband’s presence and income despite knowing that she was required to and that it would affect her eligibility to receive benefits.
Hercock faces up to five years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000 followed by up to three years of supervised release. The Court may also order Hercock to pay restitution to the SSA. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
SSA’s Office of the Inspector General investigated the case.
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New York Woman Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud, Aggravated Identity Theft and False Use of a PassportRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A New York woman pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Portland to bank fraud, aggravated identity theft and false use of a passport.
According to court records, in May 2023, Lisa Campos, 57, attempted to withdraw funds from the joint credit union account of two victims, presenting a fake United States passport card as identification. She was successful in withdrawing $8000 from one credit union branch in two separate transactions. She made two additional unsuccessful attempts at other branch locations. Shortly after leaving the third branch, Campos was located by Freeport Police Department officers and provided them with the purported passport card and a debit card, both in one of the victims’ names.
Campos faces up to 30 years in prison and a maximum fine of $1 million followed by up to five years of supervised release on the bank fraud charge. She faces up to 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000 followed by up to three years of supervised release on the false use of a passport charge. She faces up to two years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000 followed by up to a year of supervised release on the aggravated identity theft charge. Any sentence on the aggravated identity theft charge would be served consecutively with any other sentence. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service investigated the case with assistance from the Sanford, Topsham, and Freeport police departments.
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Three New Bedford, Massachusetts Men Charged for February 9 Shooting in Saco, Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: U.S. Attorney for the District of Maine Darcie N. McElwee announced today at a press briefing held outside the Edward T. Gignoux U.S. Courthouse in Portland that three New Bedford, Massachusetts men have been indicted following a February 9 drive-by shooting in Saco.
The U.S. Attorney was joined at today’s announcement by Saco Police Chief Jack Clements, Assistant United States Attorneys Johnathan Nathans and Noah Falk, and representatives of the FBI’s Southern Maine Gang Task Force including FBI Supervisory Senior Resident Agent Christopher Peavey, ATF Special Agent in Charge James Ferguson and Resident Agent in Charge Nicholas Dilello, and Acting U.S. Marshal Kevin Neal.
In a two-count indictment returned on May 15, a federal grand jury charged Joshua Estrada (aka “Mac”), 19, Yancarlos Abrante (aka “Glizzy”), 20, and Jason Johnson-Rivera (aka “Ouda”), 18, with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine and perpetrating a drive-by shooting.
According to the indictment, on February 9, 2024, the three men fired at least five rounds from a 9mm handgun into another vehicle in a drug trade dispute. The indictment alleges that Estrada, Abrante and Johnson-Rivera had been trafficking cocaine in and around Saco and Biddeford since at least January 2024.
Estrada was arrested in New Bedford, Massachusetts on May 6, 2024 when charged by criminal complaint for these same charges. Just prior to the press briefing today, Estrada appeared in federal court for his initial appearance in Maine and an arraignment on the indictment returned yesterday. Abrante and Johnson-Rivera, charged in the same indictment, are currently being held by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on unrelated charges. They will be in Maine next week for their initial appearances and arraignments. If convicted, the three men each face up to 20 years in prison and a fine up to $1 million on the drug charge followed by at least three years of supervised release. They each face up to 25 years imprisonment and a maximum fine on $250,000 followed by a up to five years of supervised release on the drive-by shooting charge. An indictment is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
“I commend the Saco Police Department and those from the neighboring communities who responded to this incident,” said U.S. Attorney Darcie McElwee. “This joint federal and local investigation reflects that if you come to Maine and engage in violence, particularly firearm violence, there will be a swift and coordinated response from every level of law enforcement.”
“Immediately following this brazen, drive-by shooting and the ensuing chaos that followed, the FBI’s Southern Maine Gang Task Force hit the streets collecting information, intelligence, and evidence to help our partners identify those responsible and bring them to justice. We believe the three Massachusetts men we have in custody conspired with each other to traffic cocaine and were the instigators of this drive-by shooting,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division which includes all of Maine. “Violent drug traffickers have a corrosive effect on our communities, and we want everyone to know that the FBI is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to help make Maine safer for the folks who live, work, and visit here.”
“Brazen violent crime of this magnitude is not something the City of Saco is accustomed to, but when it happens, Maine law enforcement responds,” said Chief Jack Clements of the Saco Police Department. “I want to thank not only our direct neighboring agencies but also the Maine State Police, federal law enforcement, and the municipal and county law enforcement agencies from across York and Cumberland counties that responded. Finally, I would like to thank my detectives, the FBI’s Southern Maine Gang Task Force, and the United States Attorney’s Office for their tireless efforts in bringing this case to where it is today.”
The Saco Police Department and FBI’s Southern Maine Gang Task Force investigated the case with assistance from the New Bedford (Mass.) Police Department.
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New Hampshire Man Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud, Identity TheftRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Manchester, New Hampshire man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Portland to committing wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.
According to court records, from at least March 2019 through March 2022, Dominic Barbosa (aka, Christopher Barnhart), 29, obtained the identifications of individuals without their knowledge or consent. Barbosa stole mail in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine, including bank account statements, tax returns, and other documents containing others’ means of identification. He kept records of that information to use in the scheme. As part of the scheme, Barbosa would apply for duplicate licenses for others, often changing the address, and then use the stolen identification information and duplicate driver’s licenses to open bank accounts, credit card accounts and lines of credit in others’ names. He also used the stolen identifications to make purchases or enter into contracts. When questioned by a United States Postal Inspector, Barbosa stated he had a cloud database with stolen identities, and investigators in Massachusetts found bins of mail and photocopies of identifying information in a storage unit Barbosa rented.
Barbosa faces up to 20 years imprisonment and a fine up to the greater of $250,000 or twice the gain or loss on one count of wire fraud. He faces a minimum of two years, to be served consecutively to any other sentenced imposed, and a fine up to $250,000 on the aggravated identity theft charge. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles, South Berwick Police Department, Litchfield Police Department (NH), North Reading Police Department (MA), Salem Police Department (NH), United States Postal Inspection Service investigated the case.
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Edited 05/13/24: Headline corrected to reflect current residence for defendant