District of Maine

Bangor, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Larry O’Neal, 45, of Houlton, Maine, was convicted of possessing child pornography today, following a four-day jury trial.

Court records and trial evidence revealed that, in January 2018, O’Neal was found with images of child pornography in his computer in January 2018, when law enforcement executed a search warrant at his home.  Agents began investigating O’Neal after his computer was observed on a peer-to-peer file sharing network as having files associated with child pornography. 

O’Neal faces up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and between five years and a lifetime of supervised release.  He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.

The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of the Inspector General, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Office of Professional Responsibility, the Customs and Border Protection Office of Professional Responsibility, and the Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit.  This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

Portland, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Hussien Noor Hussien, 56, of Burlington, Vermont, was convicted today following a three-day jury trial in U.S. District Court of personage of another in a naturalization proceeding, procuring naturalization contrary to law, and making a false statement on a passport application.

Court records and trial evidence revealed that in 2004, Hussien entered the United States as a refugee under the name Abukar Hassan Abdule.  He entered with the wife and children of the true Abukar Hassan Abdule.  In 2011, he applied for U.S. citizenship under the same name.  He affirmed on his citizenship application and during an in-person citizenship interview in South Portland, Maine, that his name was Abukar Hassan Abdule.  He ultimately was naturalized under the same name.  After becoming a U.S. citizen, he applied for a U.S. passport under the name Abukar Hassan Abdule.  In 2013, he filed in Vermont state court to legally change his name in the U.S. from Abukar Hassan Abdule to Hussien Noor Hussien, the name he was given at birth.

Hussien faces a maximum of five years in prison on the count of personage of another in a naturalization proceeding, up to ten years in prison on the other two counts, and a fine of up to $250,000 on each count.  In addition, by law, due to the conviction for procuring naturalization contrary to law, the Court must revoke Hussien’s citizenship.  Hussien will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.

The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service; the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations; and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General.

Bangor, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Mark Pignatello, 54, of Kent, Connecticut, pled guilty yesterday in U.S. District Court to bank fraud, social security number fraud, and aggravated identity theft.

According to court records, from October 22 through 24, 2018, Pignatello traveled across Maine and New Hampshire visiting branches of People’s United Bank at which he passed or attempted to pass counterfeit checks made out to others. He used the social security numbers and other personal information of these individuals to impersonate them and used counterfeit driver’s licenses bearing his image but their personal information. He was apprehended by the Newport police outside of the Newport, Maine branch of People’s United Bank, where his activity had been identified as fraudulent.

Pignatello faces up to 30 years imprisonment and a fine of up to $1,000,000 on the bank fraud charge, up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 on the social security number fraud charge, and a mandatory minimum sentence of two years in prison on the aggravated identity theft charge, as well as up to five years of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.

The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Secret Service and the Maine State Police.

Bangor, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Michael E. Algiere, 32, of Oakland, Maine, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to interfering with commerce by robbery.  Algiere was indicted in August 2018.

Court records reveal that on October 31, 2007, the defendant entered the Oakland Pharmacy in Oakland, Maine.  He was wearing a black ski mask, a hooded sweatshirt, and camouflage gloves.  He went to the pharmacy counter holding a knife and he demanded oxycodone from the pharmacist.  The defendant absconded with several bottles of Roxicodone, Oxycontin, and Percocet.  Investigators submitted several items of evidence to the Maine State Police Crime Laboratory (MSPCL) recovered at and around the scene of the robbery.  Forensic analysts recovered the same male DNA profile from the ski mask and knife.  That profile was loaded into the Combined DNA Index System (“CODIS”) in 2007 but did not yield a match.  CODIS is a criminal justice database that contains DNA profiles of convicted offenders and arrestees (known profiles).  Because participating forensic laboratories regularly add DNA profiles to CODIS, the MSPCL routinely compares unknown profiles from unsolved cases against the known profiles in CODIS.  In February 2017, a CODIS comparison revealed that the DNA obtained from the ski mask and knife matched DNA collected from Michael E. Algiere.  The DNA match was confirmed after federal investigators obtained a search warrant and collected samples of the defendant’s DNA.

The defendant faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.  He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office. 

The case was investigated by the Oakland Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the MSPCL. 

Portland, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Nelson Jean Dion, 52, of Kittery, was charged by criminal complaint in U.S. District Court with two counts of interstate travel to violate a protection order. Dion appeared before a United States Magistrate Judge in Portland Tuesday afternoon and was ordered detained pending a court hearing on April 30, 2019.

According to court documents, between April 19, 2016, and June 30, 2016, Dion traveled from Maine to New Hampshire, and then from New Hampshire to Maine, to have contact with a former live-in girlfriend in violation of a provision contained in a bail bond that had been issued by the York County Superior Court.

If convicted as charged, the defendant faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 on each charge. The charges contained in the criminal complaint are only accusations and the defendant remains innocent unless and until proven guilty.

This case was investigated by the Kittery, Berwick, and Eliot, Maine Police Departments, the York County District Attorney’s Office, the Portsmouth, New Hampshire Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted as 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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.

Portland, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank joined the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in announcing that DEA will once again conduct one of its most popular community programs: National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. On Saturday, April 27, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., the public can dispose of their expired, unused and unwanted prescription medications at over 600 collection sites throughout New England, operated by local law enforcement agencies and other community partners. The service is free of charge, no questions asked and most of these collection sites can be found in the lobby of your local Police Department. To find a collection site near you go to: www.DEATakeBack.com.

This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the United States are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. DEA launched its prescription drug take back program when both the Environmental Protection Agency and the Food and Drug Administration advised the public that flushing these drugs down the toilet or throwing them in the trash posed potential safety and health hazards.

“DEA has touched a nerve in America with its recent Take Back events, as evidenced by the millions of pounds of pills collected during our previous 16 events,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle. “These events are only made possible through the dedicated work and commitment of our local, state and federal partners, and DEA thanks each and every one of them for their continuous efforts on behalf of the American people.”

“The DEA drug take back is an integral part of controlling the diversion of prescription drugs into the wrong hands and into our ecosystem,” said Halsey B. Frank, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maine.  “Maine has been a national leader ever since the program was founded and I hope and expect that we will continue the leadership in 2019.” 

Last October, during its 16th Take Back Day, the DEA New England Division participated in the drug take back day and, over the course of four hours, 80,277.68 pounds or 40 tons of expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs we’re collected at 613 collection sites throughout New England. 

The following was the breakdown of collected weights for the six New England states:

CT             4,792.30 lbs.

MA          26,255.58 lbs.

ME           27,156.70 lbs.

NH            11,880 lbs.

RI              4,364 lbs.

VT             5,829 lbs. 

TOTAL    80,277.68 lbs.

Bangor, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Stephen G. Olivo, 59, of Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, and Caribou, Maine was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge Lance E. Walker to 3 years in prison and 5 years of supervised release for failing to register as a sex offender.  Olivo pleaded guilty on November 6, 2018.   

Court records reveal that on about October 2, 1990, the defendant was convicted of aggravated felonious sexual assault in Hillsborough County that required him to register as a sex offender for life.  In late 2014 or early 2015, the defendant traveled from Georgia to Maine and lived and worked in Aroostook County but failed to inform the sex offender registry in New Hampshire that he had left New Hampshire.  He also never registered in Maine, as required.  He was arrested in September 2018. 

The investigation was conducted by the United States Marshal’s Service.

Bangor, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Ryan D. Merrill, 39, of Augusta, Maine, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to possessing an unregistered silencer.  Merrill was indicted in October 2018.

According to court records, on July 17, 2018, officers with the Augusta, Maine police department (APD) responded to a complaint of gunshots in a residential area.  Merrill had been firing a .22 caliber rifle at a fox and at small propane tanks behind his home.  Officers discovered that Merrill had modified an automotive oil filter and attached it to the muzzle of the rifle using a special adapter in order to suppress the sound of rounds he fired.  Merrill had not registered the silencer in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record and he knew that the possession of the silencer was prohibited by federal law.

The case was investigated by Augusta Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  It is being prosecuted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).  PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proved to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

Bangor, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Demario Boler, a/k/a “White Mike,” a/k/a “Mike,” 23, of Buffalo, New York, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to conspiring to distribute heroin and cocaine base, commonly known as “crack,” and distributing crack.

According to court records, between November 2016 and September 2017, Boler conspired with others from Rochester, New York and Central Maine to distribute heroin and crack.  The drugs were acquired in Rochester and Boler and others distributed the drugs in Central Maine.  On May 11, 2017, Boler sold crack to an individual working with law enforcement.

The defendant faces up to 20 years in prison, between three years and life on supervised release, and a $1,000,000 fine.  He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; and the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency and is being prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s program to combat the opioid epidemic.

Portland, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Peter Garces, 22, of the Bronx, New York, pled guilty today in U.S. District Court to credit card fraud.  The charge arises from an investigation into fraud committed at three Maine Home Depot stores.

According to court records, on September 27, 2018, the defendant provided false identity information to three Home Depot stores located in Biddeford, South Portland and Windham to obtain credit cards.  The defendant used his fraudulently obtained credit cards to purchase over $15,500 worth of items from those stores.  The defendant was in the process of attempting to fraudulently obtain a credit card from a Home Depot store in Auburn when he was arrested.  

The defendant faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office. 

The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Secret Service, in conjunction with the Biddeford, South Portland, Windham and Auburn Police Departments.

Bangor, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Suzanne Muscara, 37, of Burlington, Maine, was indicted yesterday for mailing a threatening communication to Senator Susan Collins. 

According to court records, the charge arose from an investigation into a suspicious letter processed by the U.S. Postal Service mail sorting facility in Hampden, Maine, in October 2018.  The letter was leaking a fine white powder and it contained a threat.  The white powder was tested and found not to contain toxic substances.

If convicted, the defendant faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The investigation is being conducted by the FBI, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Office of Maine State Fire Marshal, and the Maine State Police.

An indictment is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt. 

Bangor, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Gregory Violette, 64, was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court by Judge George Z. Singal to 27 months in prison for violating the terms of his supervised release.  The defendant pleaded guilty to the violations yesterday.

According to court records, following his federal fraud and money laundering convictions in 2002, the defendant was ordered to pay over $400,000 in restitution and placed on supervised release that prohibited him from, among other things, obtaining new credit without his probation officer’s permission or violating federal law, and that required him to, among other things, work in a lawful occupation and report any financial gains and apply them to restitution.  In fact, the defendant, sought a $150,000 mortgage without permission, failed to report thousands of dollars of assets and a $10,000 lawsuit settlement and violated state securities laws.

At sentencing, Judge Singal described the defendant’s “long series of deliberate falsehoods” and “catch me if you can” fraud schemes as “the most egregious case of deliberate violation of court orders” and “callousness to the rules of our society” that he had encountered in almost 20 years as a federal judge.

The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Probation Office and the Office of Securities, Maine Department of Professional and Financial Regulation.

Portland, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Tony Leonard, a/k/a “Tom Cat,” 49, of Lewiston, Maine, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge George Z. Singal to eight years in prison and three years of supervised release for being a felon in possession of a firearm.  The defendant pled guilty on November 1, 2018.

According to court records, on August 17, 2017, members of the Lewiston Police Department executed a narcotics-related search warrant at Leonard’s Lewiston residence and seized a Glock .40 caliber handgun and a loaded magazine.  Leonard was prohibited from possessing the firearm because of prior felony convictions for aggravated forgery, aggravated assault and drug trafficking.

The case was investigated by the Lewiston Police Department, with assistance provided by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and prosecuted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).  PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

Bangor, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that David O. Miles, Jr., 28, of Dexter, Maine, was sentenced today by Judge Nancy Torresen to two years in prison and three years of supervised release for providing false information during the purchase of firearms.  Miles pleaded guilty on August 31, 2018.

According to court records, on March 2, 2015, Miles purchased two SCCY 9 millimeter pistols from a federally licensed firearms dealer.  In connection with the purchase, Miles completed a Firearms Transaction Record form in which he falsely reported that he was the actual purchaser of the firearms.  In fact, Miles was buying the firearms for another individual who was prohibited from purchasing them.

The case was investigated by the Massachusetts State Police and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and prosecuted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).  PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

Portland, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank joined the Department of Justice in announcing today’s release of two complementary reports that focus on the mental health and safety of the nation’s federal, state, local and tribal police officers. The reports, Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act: Report to Congress and Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Programs: Eleven Case Studies, were published by the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) as required by the Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act (LEMHWA) of 2017. 

The LEMHWA passed both chambers unanimously and without amendment and was signed by the President shortly thereafter. These actions show that its purpose and intended effects are uncontroversial among policymakers – law enforcement agencies need and deserve support in their ongoing efforts to protect the mental health and well-being of their employees. Congress took the important step in improving the delivery of and access to mental health and wellness services that will help our nation’s more than 800,000 federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement officers. 

"Serving as a law enforcement officer requires courage, strength, and dedication," Attorney General William P. Barr said. "The demands of this work, day in and day out, can take a toll on the health and well-being of our officers, but the Department of Justice is committed to doing our part to help. I want to thank the men and women of our COPS office for their hard work to support our officers every day, and specifically for these thoughtful and insightful reports, which detail both the challenges facing our officers and some specific ways we can give them the support that they deserve."

"A damaging national narrative has emerged in which law enforcement officers – whether federal, state, local, or tribal – are seen not as protectors of communities but as oppressors," said COPS Office Director Phil Keith. “In this environment, where an inherently stressful job is made more so by a constant undercurrent of distrust and negative public opinion, the risks to officer wellness are exacerbated. This report is an important measure and reflection in our ongoing commitment to protect those who protect us. "

“Law enforcement is a stressful business,” said U.S. Attorney Frank.  “We respect and admire our law enforcement partners.  We encourage them to remember to keep in mind their own well-being, and we support officer wellness programs, in particular.”

Under the Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act, the COPS Office was required to submit reports to Congress that addressed:

(1) Recommendations to Congress on effectiveness of crisis lines for law enforcement officers, efficacy of annual mental health checks for law enforcement officers, expansion of peer mentoring programs, and ensuring privacy considerations for these types of programs;

(2) Mental health practices and services in the U.S. Departments of Defense (DoD) and Veterans Affairs (VA) that could be adopted by federal, state, local, or tribal law enforcement agencies; and

(3) Case studies of programs designed primarily to address officer psychological health and well-being.

The first report, Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act: Report to Congress, includes 22 recommendations to Congress ranging from supporting programs to embed mental health professionals in law enforcement agencies to supporting the development of model policies and implementation guidance for law enforcement agencies to make substantial efforts to reduce suicide.

The case studies report,  Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Programs: Eleven Case Studies, is designed to provide an overview of multiple successful and promising law enforcement mental health and wellness strategies with the joint aims of informing Congress, state and local government officials, and the law enforcement field. The report includes 11 case studies from a diverse group of sites across the United States.

The Department of Justice is pleased to respond to the LEMHWA as officer safety, health, and wellness is a longstanding priority of the agency. The reports released today address some of the most pressing issues currently facing our law enforcement community.

The COPS Office has a near 25-year history of supporting the efforts of state, local and tribal law enforcement, including the management of the National Blue Alert Network. The agency awards grants to hire community policing officers, develop and test innovative policing strategies, and provide training and technical assistance to community members, local government leaders, and all levels of law enforcement. Since 1994, the COPS Office has invested more than $14 billion to help advance community policing.

Portland, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Michael A. Morrison, 42, of Rockland, Maine, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge Nancy Torresen to four months in prison and three years of supervised release, including four months of home confinement, for health care fraud and embezzlement from a health care benefit program.  He was also ordered to pay about $206,000 in restitution.  Morrison pleaded guilty to the charges on December 11, 2018.

According to court documents, between 2005 and 2016, the defendant was the manager of the Trade Winds Health, Swim and Tan Club in Rockland which also operated a physical therapy practice known as Coastal Physical Therapy.  From 2014 through 2016, the defendant billed about $175,000 in false claims for reimbursement to Medicare, MaineCare, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and a Veterans Administration health care program. Some claims were false because the defendant exaggerated the length of time therapists spent with patients.  He also made claims for appointments that were cancelled, for services that he provided even though he was not properly licensed, and using the names of therapists who were not working on the dates claimed.

Court documents also show that the defendant embezzled about $31,000 from the Health Club by using a Health Club credit card to pay for personal Amazon.com purchases and by stealing cash that he failed to deposit into the Health Club’s bank account.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General; the Maine Attorney General’s Office, Healthcare Crimes Unit; the Department of  Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General; and the Rockland Police Department. 

Washington -- United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank joined the Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP) in announcing the award of $9.4 million to support crime victims in Native American communities in eight states: Alaska, California, Maine, Michigan, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma and Washington. The group of 16 awards is the fourth in a series of grants being made by the Department’s Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) to American Indian and Alaska Native communities. OVC has now awarded more than $26 million of nearly $100 million to support tribal victim service programs. 

The Pleasant Point Passamaquoddy Tribe (Maine) received $328,905 to expand existing services for victims of intimate partner violence, sexual assault, dating violence, sex trafficking and stalking, as well as for elders experiencing abuse. Funding will support staff training, transportation for victims in remote areas and a contracted attorney to provide legal counsel in civil matters to elder abuse victims.

The awards—46 in total so far—will fund critical crime victim services, such as counseling, transitional housing, emergency services and transportation. The grants are supported by the Crime Victims Fund, a repository of federal criminal fines, fees and special assessments. The fund includes zero tax dollars.  

“American Indian and Alaska Native communities face extensive public safety challenges, but through creative approaches that combine traditional methods with innovative solutions, they are demonstrating their determination to meet the needs of victims in their communities,” said OJP’s Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Matt M. Dummermuth. “These grants, part of historic levels of funding awarded by the Department of Justice to American Indian and Alaska Native communities, will provide significant resources to bring critical services to those who suffer the effects of crime and violence.”

According to OJP’s Bureau of Justice Statistics, American Indians and Alaska Natives experience violent crime at rates far greater than the general population.

“We are hopeful that this grant will help the Pleasant Point Passamaquoddy Tribe address some of the challenges that they face in the areas of domestic violence, sexual assault and trafficking, and elder abuse, all of which are national and local priorities for the Department and our office,” said U.S. Attorney Frank.

Nearly 170 tribes are expected to receive funding this spring to help their communities support crime victims over the next three years.

“American Indian and Alaska Native crime victims continue to face challenges in accessing vital services and resources needed to help survivors address their trauma and navigate a complex system,” said OVC Director Darlene Hutchinson. “The Justice Department has made it a priority to partner with tribes to help victims and their families rebuild their lives in the aftermath of violence.”

OJP, directed by Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Dummermuth, provides federal leadership, grants and resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime, assist victims and enhance the rule of law by strengthening the criminal justice system. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.

Portland, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank joined the Department of Justice’s observance of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, April 7-13, 2019.

“Victims of crime deserve justice. This Department works every day to help them recover and to find, prosecute, and convict those who have done them harm,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “During this National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, we pause to remember the millions of Americans who have been victims of crime and we thank public servants who have served them in especially heroic ways. This week the men and women of the Department recommit ourselves once again to ensuring that crime victims continue to have a voice in our legal system, to securing justice for them, and to preventing other Americans from suffering what they have endured."

“The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine always has in mind the interests of the victims in its cases,” said U.S. Attorney Frank. “We work to keep victims informed of developments in their cases, to give them an opportunity to be heard, to vindicate their rights, to obtain restitution for them, to ensure that they are treated with dignity and respect, and to bring them some relief from the injustice that they have suffered.  In recent months, victims have addressed the court during sentencings in cases of child pornography, bank robbery, and drug distribution resulting in death.”

Each year in April, the Department of Justice and United States Attorneys’ offices observe National Crime Victims’ Rights Week nationwide by taking time to honor victims of crime and those who advocate on their behalf. In addition, the Justice Department and U.S. Attorneys’ offices organize events to honor the victims and advocates, as well as bring awareness to services available to victims of crime. This year’s observance takes place April 7-13, with the theme: Honoring Our Past. Creating Hope for the Future.

The U.S. Department of Justice will host the Office for Victims of Crime’s annual National Crime Victims’ Service Awards Ceremony in Washington, D.C. on April 12, 2019, to honor outstanding individuals and programs that serve victims of crime.

The Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime, within the Office of Justice Programs, leads communities across the country in observing National Crime Victims’ Rights Week each year. President Ronald Reagan proclaimed the first National Crime Victims’ Rights Week in 1981 to bring greater sensitivity to the needs and rights of victims of crime.

The Office of Justice Programs provides innovative leadership to federal, state, local, and tribal justice systems, by disseminating state-of-the art knowledge and practices across America, and providing grants for the implementation of these crime-fighting strategies. Because most of the responsibility for crime control and prevention falls to law enforcement officers in states, cities, and neighborhoods, the federal government can be effective in these areas only to the extent that it can enter into partnerships with these officers. More information about the Office of Justice Programs and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov. More information about Crime Victim’s Rights Week can be found at https://ovc.ncjrs.gov/ncvrw/. You may also contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine’s Victim Witness Program at (207) 780-3257.

Portland, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Stephanie Beck, 41, of Lewiston, Maine, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to conspiracy to manufacture marijuana.

According to court records, the defendant was licensed by Maine’s Department of Professional and Financial Regulation as a Certified Clinical Supervisor and an Alcohol and Drug Counselor.  Between December 1, 2017, and February 27, 2018, the defendant provided patient names to a nurse practitioner (including the names of MaineCare recipients), who, in turn, created fraudulent medical marijuana certifications.  These fraudulent certifications allowed a marijuana trafficking conspiracy to illegally cultivate marijuana plants under the cover of, but in violation of, the Maine Medical Use of Marijuana Program.

The defendant faces up to 20 years in jail and a $1,000,000 fine.  She will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General, the Maine Attorney General’s Healthcare Crimes Unit, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation.

Bangor, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Suzanne Muscara, 37, of Burlington, Maine, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint on Friday with mailing a threatening communication to Senator Susan Collins. 

According to the complaint affidavit, the charge arose from an investigation into a suspicious letter processed by the U.S. Postal Service mail sorting facility in Hampden, Maine, in October 2018.  The letter was leaking a fine white powder and it contained a threat.  The white powder was tested and found not to contain toxic substances.

If convicted, the defendant faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The defendant will make an initial appearance today at 2:30 p.m. in U.S. District Court in Bangor, Courtroom 1.

The investigation is being conducted by the FBI, the U.S. Postal Inspector Service, the Office of Maine State Fire Marshal, and the Maine State Police.

A criminal complaint is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt. 

Bangor, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Frankie Dejesus, 29, of Rochester, New York, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. to 130 months in prison and three years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute heroin, fentanyl and cocaine base, commonly known as “crack.” 

According to court records, between June 2015 and March 2017, Dejesus conspired with others to acquire heroin, fentanyl and crack in Rochester and to distribute it from at least 12 residences in Central Maine. The defendant was sent to Central Maine to distribute the drugs while residing with several Central Maine residents who were paid in heroin and crack for their participation. 

On June 26, 2016, Dejesus exchanged gunfire with Reginald McBride in the parking lot of the Walmart in Augusta, Maine.  In imposing sentence, Judge Woodcock recounted the drug-related backdrop leading up to the “wild west shootout” between Dejesus and McBride.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, and the Kennebec County Sheriff’s Department, with assistance provided by the Augusta, Maine Police Department. This case was investigated and prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s Strategy to Combat the Opioid Epidemic.

Bangor, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Ambrose Wan, a/k/a “Ambrose Won,” a/k/a “Bruno,” 34, of New York, New York, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. to 135 months in prison and eight years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute heroin, fentanyl, cocaine and cocaine base, commonly known as “crack” and possession with the intent to distribute cocaine, crack and heroin, and possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl, heroin and cocaine.

According to court records, between July and September 2017 Wan conspired with others to distribute the drugs in Central Maine. The drugs were obtained from sources in New York and distributed through a network of dealers in Central Maine.  On September 6, 2017 and again on September 28, 2017, the Waterville Police Department recovered drugs from two separate hotel rooms in the city.  The drugs were intended for distribution by Wan and others.

In imposing sentence, Judge Woodcock observed that Wan had been a “professional drug dealer” for most of his adult life.

The case was investigated by the Waterville Police Department and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, with the assistance of the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency. This case was investigated and prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s Strategy to Combat the Opioid Epidemic.

Bangor, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Randolph Bourgoin, III, 31, of Millinocket, Maine, pled guilty yesterday in U.S. District Court to theft of a firearm from a federally licensed dealer. 

According to court records, on November 27, 2018, Bourgoin stole the gun from a display case at a gun dealer in Milo.  The theft was caught on surveillance video, and Mr. Bourgoin later admitted to the theft.

Bourgoin faces up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office. 

The case was investigated by the Milo Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).  PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime

Bangor, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Richard F. Moloney, 43, of Milford, Maine, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge Lance E. Walker to 12½ years in prison and three years of supervised release for interfering with commerce by robbery and bank robbery.  The charges arose from the robbery of the County Road Market in Milford and the Bangor Savings Bank branch located in Orono, Maine in June 2018.

Court records reveal that on June 10, 2018, the defendant entered the County Road Market, pointed what appeared to be a dark-colored handgun at a cashier and told her to give him money.  The defendant was wearing a grey hooded sweatshirt and sunglasses, and had socks on his hands and a cloth over his face.  A second cashier opened the register and put the cash tray on the counter.  The defendant absconded with the money. 

Two days later, the defendant robbed a Bangor Savings Bank branch.  He was wearing a black mask, a grey hooded sweatshirt with the hood pulled up, sunglasses with reflective lenses, jeans, and white socks on his hands.  The defendant walked to the teller counter where a customer was conducting a transaction and displayed a note to the bank teller that read: “Give me all the money fast in a bag. No tracer or dye packs got a gun.”  The teller gave the defendant cash from the drawer to the defendant and he absconded with it.  

The investigation was conducted by the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office; the Old Town, Bangor and Orono Police Departments; the Maine State Police Crime Laboratory; the Maine State Police; and the FBI.

Bangor, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Marena Mushero, 28, recently of Hampden, Maine, was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court by Judge Lance E. Walker to five years of probation for conspiring to enter a marriage in order to evade U.S. immigration laws.

According to court records, Mushero, a United States citizen, posted an advertisement on an on-line forum, in which she offered to marry a person in need of permanent resident status in exchange for money.   On June 13, 2018, she received a response from a Nepalese citizen who was lawfully in the U.S. and living in another state.  Mushero agreed to marry him in exchange for cash payments so that he could get a “green card.”  On June 25, 2018, Mushero and her coconspirator were married in Brewer, Maine.  Before and after the wedding, Mushero received hundreds of dollars via wire transfers from her coconspirator, who continued to live and work in another state.  

In imposing the sentence, Judge Walker noted that Mushero is due to complete an eight-month state prison term next week for an unrelated offense.

The investigation was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and the Brewer Police Department.  

Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Demetrius Davenport, 30, of Lewiston, pled guilty today in U.S. District Court to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to court records, in June 2018, Davenport travelled to Gray, Maine, where he rented a firearm, purchased ammunition, and fired the weapon at a shooting range.  Investigators identified Davenport and the shooting range from a video that was uploaded to YouTube.  Davenport was prohibited from possessing the firearm as a result of two prior felony convictions for illegal possession of firearms and theft. 

Davenport faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.  He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.

The case was investigated jointly by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Lewiston Police Department. 

Portland, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Benjamin Gagnon, 35, of Keene, New Hampshire, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Concord, New Hampshire by Judge Joseph A. DiClerico, Jr. to 20 years in prison and eight years of supervised release for sexual exploitation of a minor. Gagnon pleaded guilty to the charge on September 13, 2018.

According to court records, in January 2017, Gagnon, who was in New Hampshire, persuaded and induced a minor female in Texas to create still images and videos depicting the minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct. The minor then transmitted the images and videos to Gagnon over the internet. Gagnon later uploaded the images to an online account, where they were found by investigators in August 2017.

“The defendant in this case used online messaging applications to target children and sexually exploit vulnerable victims, a dangerous type of criminal threat that all parents should understand and about which they should educate their children,” said Peter C. Fitzhugh, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Boston. “With any Internet connection or a smart phone, even the youngest of children are susceptible to this type of trickery and criminal exploitation. Cases like this are why HSI will continue to join forces with the New Hampshire Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force to combat the sexual exploitation of children.”

The investigation was conducted by HSI; the Keene Police Department; and the ICAC Task Forces located in New Hampshire, North Carolina, and Houston, Texas.

The 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 Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

Bangor, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Jason Mannix, a/k/a “Boston”, 39, of Bangor pled guilty in U.S. District Court to conspiracy to distribute heroin, fentanyl and cocaine base, commonly known as “crack.” 

According to court records, between January 2016 and July 2017, Mannix conspired with others to distribute heroin, fentanyl and crack transported to Penobscot County from Waterbury, Connecticut. The defendant sold the drugs and served as a “runner” for other members of the conspiracy, delivering the drugs to others in Penobscot County.  He also transported members of the conspiracy to Connecticut to obtain more drugs.

The defendant faces up to 20 years in prison term, three years to life on supervised release, and a $1,000,000 fine.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency and prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s Strategy to Combat the Opioid Epidemic.

Bangor, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Richard Quattrone, 50, of Augusta, Maine, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr., to eight months in prison and three years of supervised release for making false statements to a federal firearms licensee.   

According to court records, in March, 2017, Quattrone bought a firearm from a Kennebec County firearms dealer. During the transaction, Quattrone made false statements about his current residence and unlawful use of marijuana.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

Bangor, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Sharoz Haywood, a/k/a “Baby Dreads,” a/k/a “Rah,” 22, of Rochester, New York, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to conspiracy to distribute heroin and cocaine base, commonly known as “crack,” and distribution of heroin. 

According to court records, between November 2016 and September 2017, Haywood conspired with others from Rochester and Central Maine to distribute crack and heroin.  The drugs were acquired in Rochester and sold by Haywood and others in Central Maine.  On July 14, 2017, Haywood sold heroin to an individual working with law enforcement.

The defendant faces up to 20 years in prison, between three years and life on supervised release, and a $1,000,000 fine.  He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; and the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency.  The case is being prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s program to combat the opioid epidemic.

Bangor, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Angela A. Curtis, 32, of Hudson, Maine pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to theft of mail. 

Court records reveal that in June and July, 2018, Curtis stole mail from mail boxes in Glenburn, Bangor, Hudson, Hampden, and Charleston, Maine.  The mail that she stole included checks.  She altered several of those checks to add her name but her theft was discovered before any of the checks were negotiated. 

Curtis faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.  She will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.

The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office.

Bangor, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Patrick Monahan, 52, of Old Town, Maine, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. to 35 years in prison and a lifetime of supervised release for sexual exploitation of children, and distribution and possession of child pornography.  The defendant pled guilty to these charges on September 10, 2018.

According to court records, the defendant, posing online as a teenager, separately persuaded two minors to send him over the internet videos of themselves engaging in sexual activity.  The defendant subsequently uploaded some of these videos to a pornographic website that could be accessed by the general public.  In addition, the defendant possessed child pornography on his computer. 

“When Congress passed the child pornography laws, they had a person like you in mind,” said Judge Woodcock during the sentencing.  “I have to conclude you are simply incorrigible. You cannot stop yourself. The only way you can stop is if society stops you. It is my duty to put you in a place where you can do no more harm, where you cannot create any more victims.”

The case was investigated by the FBI, the Old Town and Orono Police Departments, the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office, and the Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit.  This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

Bangor, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Kenneth McLay, 47, of Old Town, Maine, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. to 20 years in prison and a lifetime of supervised release for distribution and possession of child pornography.  The defendant pled guilty to these charges on September 10, 2018.

According to court records, the defendant obtained sexually explicit videos of a minor from the internet and uploaded some of these videos to a pornographic website that could be accessed by the general public.  In addition, he possessed child pornography on his computer. 

“The conclusion I have to arrive at, and I don’t do it lightly, is you are fundamentally incorrigible; you cannot stop yourself,” said Judge Woodcock during the sentencing.  “You represent a clear and present danger to children in our society because you simply cannot stop sexualizing them.”

The case was investigated by the FBI, the Old Town and Orono Police Departments, the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office, and the Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit.  This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

Bangor, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced today that on March 21, 2019, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine the Brewer Police Department, the FBI, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives will present the TRUST (Teach mutual Respect and Understanding through SimulaTion) Program to about 40 Brewer High School students at Brewer High School, 79 Parkway South, Brewer.

“The TRUST Program arose out of the belief that young people and law enforcement officers can benefit from spending time together, discussing challenges and perspectives on law enforcement, and better understanding each other,” said U.S. Attorney Frank. “It is modeled on similar programs run by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices that have been successful in Alabama (Bridging the Gap) and Florida (Building Lasting Relationships).”

The half-day Program will start at 9:15 a.m. and conclude at approximately 1:00 p.m. It will include: (1) presentations about investigating, prosecuting, and sentencing in criminal cases; (2) student role-playing exercises involving a call for service for a domestic disturbance complaint and a traffic stop; and (3) use of force simulations.

OPEN PRESS (except for the use of force simulations; simulator equipment will be made available to the press at the conclusion of the simulations).  Students with media permissions will be identified.

NOTE:  All media must RSVP to donald.clark@usdoj.gov, arrive by 9:00 a.m. and possess a government-issued photo I.D. (such as a driver’s license) as well as valid media credentials.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Maine is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. For more information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me

Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Jonathan Lara, 29, of Lynn, Massachusetts, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge George Z. Singal to 2½ years in prison and three years of supervised release for possessing a firearm after having been convicted of felony offenses and while being an unlawful user of heroin. He pled guilty on November 27, 2018.

According to court records, in August 2017, Lara’s Lewiston hotel room was searched. Agents and officers seized controlled substances, a handgun and $3,873.  Lara was prohibited from possessing the handgun because in 2009, he had been convicted in Massachusetts of felony larceny from a person and armed robbery and because he had been a daily user of heroin for years.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, in conjunction with the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency and the Auburn and Lewiston Police Departments.

Bangor, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Owen Fickett, 32, of Harrington, Maine, was sentenced to three years in prison and three years of supervised release today in U.S. District Court by Judge Lance E. Walker for possession with the intent to distribute heroin and cocaine base, commonly known as “crack.” 

According to Court records, on March 6, 2018, a Maine State Police Trooper stopped a vehicle in which Fickett was a passenger.  During a roadside investigation, the trooper discovered that Fickett was in possession of heroin and crack and about $1,200.  Fickett admitted that he had been selling heroin and crack.

The case was investigated by the Maine State Police and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s Strategy to Combat the Opioid Epidemic.

Bangor, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Michael Ringer, 49, of Carthage, Maine, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to court records, on August 17, 2018, the Wilton Police Department responded to the scene of a 911 call regarding a threatening with a firearm and shots fired report.  Officers learned that Ringer, a convicted felon, was intoxicated and had gotten into an argument at a social gathering.  Several individuals at the gathering had seen the defendant with a handgun.  By the time officers arrived, the defendant had left.  The following day, officers found the defendant at his home.  A subsequent search of the defendant’s residence resulted in the seizure of a pistol belonging to the defendant.

The defendant faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.  He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Wilton Police Department.

Portland, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Nera James, also known as “King,” 39, of Lewiston, Maine, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge George Z. Singal to 67 months in prison and three years of supervised release for possession with the intent to distribute furanyl fentanyl, a fentanyl analogue.  James pled guilty on May 30, 2018. 

Court records reveal that on December 20, 2016, and May 3, 2017, state and local law enforcement agencies seized distributable quantities of furanyl fentanyl from James and his Lewiston apartment, respectively.  The latter search resulted in the seizure of about 601 “tickets” (dosage units) of furanyl fentanyl, $9,863, and three firearms.

The investigation was conducted by the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency; the Lewiston and Auburn Police Departments; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and the Central Maine Violent Crimes Task Force; and was prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s Strategy to Combat the Opioid Epidemic.

Portland, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Travis Jonathon Card, 38, of Westbrook, Maine, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge Nancy Torresen to five years and ten months in prison and three years of supervised for interfering with commerce by robbery.  The charges arose from a series of robberies and attempted robberies in the greater Portland area in March and April, 2018. Card pled guilty to the charges in August, 2018.

According to court records, the defendant, brandishing a pellet gun, robbed the Riverton Gas Station, in Portland, on March 20; robbed the Lil’ Mart Gas Station, in Falmouth, on March 21; robbed Good Things Variety, in Westbrook, on March 22; robbed Express Mart, in Cumberland, on March 22; robbed the Daily Grind, in Westbrook, on March 24; attempted to rob China Taste, in Portland, on March 25; robbed Subway, in Westbrook, on March 26; attempted to rob Aroma Joe’s, in South Portland, on March 27; robbed China Eatery, in Old Orchard Beach, on March 29; robbed Gulf Mart, in Westbrook, on April 6; and attempted to rob Moby Dick Variety, in Old Orchard Beach, on April 11. 

“For weeks in 2018, the defendant terrorized the greater Portland area,” said U.S. Attorney Frank.  “There was no excuse for his behavior. Thanks to the outstanding work of law enforcement agencies, he has now been held accountable.”

The investigation leading to today’s sentencing was conducted by the FBI’s Southern Maine Gang Task Force, which is comprised of agents and officers from the FBI; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and the Portland, South Portland, and Lewiston Police Departments; in conjunction with the Westbrook, Falmouth, Cumberland, and Old Orchard Beach Police Departments. 

Portland, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that the First Circuit Court of Appeals yesterday affirmed the conviction and 20 years plus life in prison sentence of Gregory Owens, 62, formerly of Londonderry, New Hampshire, imposed in July 2016 in U.S. District Court by Judge Nancy Torresen. After a 10-day jury trial in February 2016, Owens was convicted of interstate domestic violence and using and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence in connection with a home invasion shooting in Saco, Maine on December 18, 2014.

According to trial testimony, Owens drove from New Hampshire to Maine intending to kill his wife who was an overnight guest at the home of friends living in Saco. During the home invasion, Owens shot his wife and the male home owner with a 9mm pistol. Both survived their injuries.   

On appeal, Owens primarily challenged the district court’s suppression rulings, the sufficiency of the evidence at trial, and his sentence.

“This was an egregious crime by a remorseless criminal,” said U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank.  “As the First Circuit recognized, it was solved by great police work.  The Saco (ME) Police Department; the Londonderry (NH) Police Department; the Maine and New Hampshire State Police; the FBI; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and the Maine State Police Crime Laboratory are all to be commended for their great work in solving this difficult case.”

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

Portland, Maine:  Two individuals were charged in an indictment filed today for their roles in a multimillion-dollar scheme involving purported investments in a start-up financial technology company.

Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank of the District of Maine, Special Agent in Charge Joseph Bonavolonta of the FBI’s Boston Field Office and Special Agent in Charge Kristina O’Connell of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) in Boston made the announcement.

Michael A. Liberty, 58, of Windermere, Florida, and Paul E. Hess, 63, of Braintree, Massachusetts, were each charged in an indictment filed in the District of Maine with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, four counts of wire fraud and one count of securities fraud.  In addition, Liberty was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering and three counts of money laundering.

The indictment alleges that, beginning in 2010, Liberty and Hess solicited investments in Mozido, a privately held financial technology start-up company that offered users an ability to make payments using their mobile phones.  Liberty and Hess allegedly raised millions of dollars from investors telling them, among other things, that their money would be used to fund Mozido’s business operations and that Hess was not being paid to raise the money.  The indictment alleges that a substantial amount of the money did not go to Mozido, that a portion of the money was diverted to pay Liberty’s personal expenses, and that Hess received commissions and other payments in return for the money he raised from investors.

The defendants face up to 20 years in prison and a fine of the greater of $250,000 or twice the gain or loss on the wire fraud charges and up to 20 years in prison and a $5,000,000 fine on the securities fraud charge.  Liberty faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of the greater of $250,000 or twice the amount of criminally derived property involved in the transactions on the money laundering charges.  The charges in the indictment are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. 

The FBI’s Portland, Maine Resident Agency and IRS-CI are investigating the case.  Trial Attorneys Michelle Pascucci and Matthew Sullivan of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Donald Clark of the District of Maine are prosecuting the case. 

The Criminal Division’s Fraud Section plays a pivotal role in the Department of Justice’s fight against white collar crime around the country.

Individuals who believe they may be a victim in this case should contact the Victim Witness Services Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine at (207) 780-3257 for more information.

Portland, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Eric Malmstrom, 40, of Vinalhaven, Maine, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge D. Brock Hornby to 27 months in prison and three years of supervised release for transmitting threatening interstate communications. Malmstrom was convicted on August 27, 2018, after a one-day jury trial.

The evidence at trial revealed that on three occasions in February and March of last year, Malmstrom placed telephone calls to an employee of the Swedish embassy in Washington, D.C., threatening to slit the employee’s throat. Between September 2017 and March 2018, Malmstrom placed hundreds of calls to the embassy and to the employee.

In pronouncing sentence, Judge Hornby described Malmstrom’s offenses as “a despicable set of crimes,” in which Malmstrom threatened people “with vile mutilation and death.”

“This case demonstrates that threats against public officials will be aggressively investigated and prosecuted,” said U.S. Attorney Frank. “Targeting a government official because of his or her official status threatens not only the particular individual victim but also the system of government as a whole.”

“Today’s sentencing of Eric Malmstrom sends a strong message: Diplomatic Security is committed to making sure those who threaten diplomatic personnel in the United States face consequences,” said Bart Brown, director of the U.S. Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service’s (DSS’) Office of Protective Intelligence Investigations (PII).  “DSS’s strong relationship with the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Secret Service and the Knox County Sheriff’s Department is essential in the pursuit of justice.”

This case was investigated by the DSS-PII; the U.S. Secret Service; and the Knox County Sheriff’s Department.

Bangor, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Ethan Rumery, 24, of Pittsfield, Maine, pled guilty yesterday in U.S. District Court to conspiring to violate federal firearms laws. 

According to court records, between February 2015 and September 2016, Rumery conspired with others to fraudulently obtain firearms from federally licensed dealers.  When buying the firearms, Rumery and his conspirators falsely reported that they were the actual purchasers of the firearms, when, in fact, the firearms were purchased for individuals residing outside of Maine.  

Rumery faces up to 5 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office. 

The case was investigated by the Massachusetts State Police and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, as prosecuted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).  PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

Bangor, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Amy Bingaman, 34, of Levant, Maine, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge Nancy Torresen to 12 months and one day in prison and three years of supervised release for conspiracy to make false statements to a federal firearms licensee and making false statements to federal agents.  

According to court records, in late February 2018, the defendant conspired with two others to lie to a Brewer federal firearms licensee in connection with the purchase of a .380 caliber handgun.  In connection with that purchase, the defendant falsely represented that she was buying the handgun for herself, when, in fact, the actual buyer was another conspirator who was paying her to make the purchase.  The handgun was recovered during the execution of a narcotics trafficking search warrant in Brewer. 

When the defendant was interviewed by federal agents about purchasing firearms for others, she falsely stated that she had not purchased other firearms for anyone else, when, in fact, she had done so several times previously.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Brewer Police Department, with assistance provided by the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office.  This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).  PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

Portland, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Sherry Awadjie, 45, of Lewiston, Maine, pleaded guilty yesterday in U.S. District Court to theft of funds from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), MaineCare, and the Social Security Administration (SSA). 

Court documents show that from November 2015 until May 2017, Awadjie received public assistance benefits from SNAP, MaineCare, and the SSA because she claimed to be disabled and not earning any income.  In fact, from at least November 2015, Awadjie was gainfully employed and earning income, but failed to inform any of the benefit programs.  On periodic reports that she was required to submit to receive the benefits, she failed to disclose her employment or income.  She also concealed her employment by arranging with her employer to be paid “under the table” and later, under the name of another person.  If she had disclosed her employment and income, she would not have been eligible for the benefits she received, including $3,492 in SNAP benefits, $1,654 in MaineCare benefits, and $15,072 in Social Security benefits.

Awadjie faces up to ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine.  She will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General; the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement; the SSA, Office of the Inspector General, and the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, Fraud Investigation and Recovery Unit.

Portland, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Fray Cayetano, 23, of Lawrence, Massachusetts was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge D. Brock Hornby to 69 months in prison and three years of supervised release for distributing fentanyl and conspiring to distribute fentanyl and cocaine base, commonly known as, “crack.”  Cayetano pled guilty on October 17, 2018.

Court records reveal that on May 29 and August 17, 2018, the defendant distributed fentanyl to person working with federal law enforcement.  After the second transaction, agents arrested Cayetano and a co-conspirator, Anthony Reynoso, and seized crack from Reynoso’s vehicle that the defendant intended to distribute. 

Reynoso pled guilty to conspiracy and aiding and abetting the distribution of fentanyl on October 29, 2018 and is awaiting sentencing.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Kittery, York and Eliot Police Departments and prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s Strategy to Combat the Opioid Epidemic.

Portland, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Lachlan Olen Granite, a/k/a “Scott Edward Bounds,” 54, of Center Ossipee, New Hampshire, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge George Z. Singal, to 1½ years in prison and three years of supervised release for making false statements to the Social Security Administration (SSA). The defendant pled guilty on July 25, 2018.

According to court records, in 2017, the defendant applied for a Social Security number (SSN), claiming that he had not been issued one.  In fact, he had been issued a SSN under his birth name “Scott Edward Bounds.”  The defendant sought the new SSN because he was then in violation of court-ordered child and spousal support and thought that changing his SSN would help him evade those orders.  The defendant also intended to seek a new driver’s license using his new SSN, because his license had been suspended due to his failure to pay child support in 2014. 

As a condition of supervised release, Judge Singal ordered the defendant to comply with his outstanding child and family support obligations.

The investigation was conducted by SSA, Office of the Inspector General.

Portland, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced today that the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine (USAO-ME) collected $3,916,132 in criminal and civil actions in Fiscal Year (FY) 2018.  Of this amount, $1,136,220 was collected in criminal actions and $2,779,912 was collected in civil actions. 

Additionally, the USAO-ME worked with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices and components of the Department of Justice to collect an additional $223,303 in cases pursued jointly by these offices.    Of this amount, $6,480 was collected in criminal actions and $216,823 was collected in civil actions.         

As a whole, the Justice Department collected nearly $15 billion in civil and criminal actions in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2018.  The $14,839,821,650 in collections in FY 2018 is nearly seven times the appropriated $2.13 billion ($2,136,750,000) budget for the 94 U.S. Attorneys’ offices.

“The men and women of the U.S. Attorneys’ offices across the country work diligently, day in and day out, to see that the citizens of our nation receive justice.  The money that we are able to recover for victims and this country as a whole is a direct result of their hard work,” Director James A. Crowell, IV, Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys.

The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, along with the department’s litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the U.S. and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims.  The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss.  While restitution is paid to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the department’s Crime Victims Fund, which distributes the funds collected to federal and state victim compensation and victim assistance programs.

The largest civil collections were from affirmative civil enforcement cases, in which the United States recovered government money lost to fraud or other misconduct or collected fines imposed on individuals and/or corporations for violations of federal health, safety, civil rights or environmental laws.  In addition, civil debts were collected on behalf of several federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Internal Revenue Service, the Small Business Administration and the Department of Education.

The USAO-ME, working with partner agencies and divisions, also collected $497,408 in asset forfeiture actions in FY 2018.  Forfeited assets deposited into the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund are used to restore funds to crime victims and for a variety of law enforcement purposes.

Portland, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Christopher A. Hutchinson, 30, of Cushing, Maine was sentenced in U.S. District Court by Judge D. Brock Hornby to four years in prison and three years of supervised release for Seaman’s Manslaughter for causing the death of two crewmen who were then 26 and 15 years old. Hutchinson pleaded guilty on September 25, 2018.

According to court records, on November 1, 2014, after smoking marijuana and drinking alcohol, Hutchinson took his lobster boat, the No Limits, out into a predicted storm with two crewmen aboard.  After he had ingested oxycodone, the boat capsized.  The two crewmen were not wearing personal floatation devices or survival suits.  The No Limits’ Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon alerted at about 1:20 p.m.  The Coast Guard rescued Hutchinson at about 4 p.m.  At the time, he was wearing shorts and a t-shirt.  The Coast Guard located the bow of the No Limits at about 5 p.m., with no signs of life.  The bodies of the two crewmen have never been found and are presumed dead.

In pronouncing sentence, Judge Hornby said: “The case was a heartbreaking tragedy.  Two young men lost their lives.  One of those leaves a young son who is now fatherless.  Many parents are grieving.”

“This case is a terrible tragedy,” said U.S. Attorney Frank. “In the cases of the victim’s families, there is nothing worse for parents than the death of their child. The defendant was the captain of the boat and was responsible for the safety of his crew.  Rather than live up to his responsibility, he engaged in risky, reckless behavior that cost the lives of two young men.  While nothing can replace those young men, hopefully, this case will send a clear message that captains will be held accountable for such losses.”

The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Coast Guard.

Bangor, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Christopher Ruhlin, 49, of Holden, Maine, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Chief Judge Jon D. Levy to 20 months in prison and three years of supervised release for conspiring to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute marijuana and structuring financial transactions. He was also ordered to forfeit $115,000. He pled guilty to the charges on June 18, 2018.

According to court records, between October 2010 and August 2016, the defendant conspired with others to illegally manufacture and distribute marijuana.  From about December 2010 until November 2013, the defendant leased a facility in Frankfort, Maine at which he and other conspirators grew and distributed marijuana.  In about May of 2014, other conspirators took over growing, processing and packaging marijuana at the Frankfort facility. They sold it to the defendant and he sold it at his business, the Owl’s Club, in downtown Bangor.

  In May 2016, agents searched the Frankfort facility and seized marijuana in various stages of harvest and cultivation, together with paraphernalia and items used to manufacture and process marijuana.  On July 20, 2016, July 28, 2016, and August 10, 2016, respectively, a witness working with law enforcement purchased marijuana at the Owl’s Club.  In August 2016, agents searched property in downtown Bangor, including the Owl’s Club, and seized over three pounds of processed marijuana. 

In imposing sentence, Judge Levy concluded that Ruhlin’s conduct violated both state and federal law. In 2010 Ruhlin had sought, but had been denied, a license to operate a medical marijuana dispensary in the state.  Judge Levy noted that Ruhlin was “operating the Owl’s Club as the dispensary that he was denied a license to operate by the state” and said that “the unregulated sale of marijuana is dangerous.  Simple as that.”

Under federal law, financial institutions that receive more than $10,000 in cash from a customer are required to report the transaction to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).  Structuring occurs when a customer breaks up their cash transactions to avoid these cash transaction reporting and record-keeping requirements.  On May 28, 2013, Ruhlin structured $27,000 in cash into two bank accounts by dividing it into three $9,000 deposits in order to evade federal reporting and record keeping requirements.

The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.