District of Maine

Bangor, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Terrence Sawtelle, a/k/a “Terry,” 49, of Dexter, Maine was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Chief Judge Jon D. Levy to one year and one day in prison and three years of supervised release for conspiring to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute marijuana.  The defendant pled guilty on June 28, 2018.

According to court records, for a period of time between October 2010 and August 2016, the defendant conspired with others to illegally manufacture marijuana at a facility in Frankfort, Maine and to distribute it at the Owl’s Club, in Bangor, Maine, in violation of federal law, and under the cover of, but in violation of, Maine’s Medical Marijuana program.  The Owl’s Club was owned and operated by co-defendant Christopher Ruhlin.

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.  In August 2016, agents searched property in downtown Bangor, including the Owl’s Club, and seized processed marijuana.  At the time of the searches, the location of the Frankfort facility was not reported to Maine’s Department of Health and Human Services as required. Beginning in March 2015, the defendant started selling marijuana for Christopher Ruhlin at the Owl’s Club.

In imposing sentence, Judge Levy concluded that Sawtelle’s activities violated both state and federal law.

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

Portland, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Daniel Thompson, a/k/a “Daniel Walker,” 21, formerly of South Paris, Maine, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge Nancy Torresen to five years in prison and three years of supervised release for maliciously damaging property used in interstate commerce by fire. He was also ordered to pay over $184,000 in restitution. Thompson pleaded guilty on August 10, 2018.

According to court records, on June 5, 2017, the defendant broke into and, using gasoline, set a fire inside a building owned by the Dead River Company, in South Paris, that was used to store files and equipment.  Dead River is a commercial petroleum supplier engaged in interstate commerce. It took several hours for firefighters to contain the blaze and the building was destroyed.

The investigation was conducted by the Maine State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Portland, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced today that on February 12, 2019, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine, the Androscoggin County District Attorney Office, the Lewiston Police Department, and the FBI will present the TRUST (Teach mutual Respect and Understanding through SimulaTion) Program to about 40 Lewiston High School students at The Green Ladle, 156 East Ave., Lewiston.

“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 8:30 a.m. and conclude at 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 8:15 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 Sean Trim, 33, of Stoughton, Massachusetts, and Tishon Singh, 28, of Queens, New York, were sentenced in U.S. District Court on credit card fraud charges.  On January 25, 2019, Chief Judge Jon D. Levy sentenced Trim to 40 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release for using a counterfeit credit card, possessing 15 or more counterfeit credit cards and conspiracy to commit credit card fraud. Trim was also ordered to pay over $23,000 in restitution.  Yesterday, Chief Judge Levy sentenced Singh to 11 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release for using a counterfeit credit card and possessing 15 or more counterfeit credit cards.  The Court deferred for 90 days its determination about the amount of restitution Singh will be ordered to pay.  Trim pled guilty on June 21, 2018.  Singh pled guilty on May 11, 2018.

Court records reveal that between November 2016 and February 2017, Trim and Singh conspired to commit credit card fraud.  On January 6, 2017, officers from the Windham Police Department conducted a traffic stop of a car occupied by Trim and Singh.  Inside the car, the officers found a black toiletry bag containing over 160 credit cards, many of which were counterfeit.  Subsequent investigation revealed that both men had used counterfeit credit cards to make purchases at a Hannaford Store in North Windham.  On February 16, 2017, law enforcement executed a search warrant at a residence in Stoughton, Massachusetts, that was occupied by Trim and Singh.  The police seized from the residence over 500 counterfeit credit cards, materials used for manufacturing counterfeit credit cards, nearly $7,000 in cash, and laptop computers and a thumb drive that contained credit card data.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service, the Windham and Biddeford, Maine Police Departments, and the Stoughton, Massachusetts Police Department. 

Bangor, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Damian A. Ouellette, 26, of Levant, Maine pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to court records, on November 2, 2018, deputies responded to a report of domestic violence at the defendant’s Levant residence where they recovered a 9mm pistol that he hid in a bin of clothes in his bedroom.  The defendant was prohibited from possessing the firearm because he had three prior felony convictions for robbery and/or theft.

He 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 Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office 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 announced that Raymond Brenneis, 59, of Rumford, Maine, was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court by Judge D. Brock Hornby to three years of probation for Social Security fraud and theft of public money. He was also ordered to pay $51,289 in restitution to the Social Security Administration (“SSA”), and $2,376 in restitution to the Maine Department of Health & Human Services (“ME/DHHS”).

According to Court records, from July 1995 to present, Brenneis received Supplemental Security Income (“SSI”) benefits, which are paid to people with limited income who are blind, disabled or elderly. From April 2015 through January 2017, Brenneis also received Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (“SNAP”) benefits and Maine State SSI Supplement benefits. From February 2011 through January 2017, Brenneis lived with his wife whose receipt of Social Security Disability Insurance (“SSDI”) benefits rendered him ineligible for the benefits he received during that period. Brenneis falsely represented to the SSA and ME/DHHS that he was living alone and not receiving help or money from any other person during this time. Brenneis later admitted to agents that he concealed his living situation from SSA and ME/DHHS because he knew his wife’s benefits would make him ineligible to receive SSI, SNAP benefits, and other state assistance.

The investigation was conducted by SSA, Office of the Inspector General, as well as ME/DHHS, Fraud Investigation & Recovery Unit.

Bangor, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Jordan Richard, 25, of New Vineyard, Maine, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge Nancy Torresen to 160 months years in prison and three years of supervised release for conspiring to distribute cocaine, heroin, fentanyl and oxycodone and discharging a firearm in relation to that conspiracy.  

According to court records, between January 2016 and September 2017, the defendant and others conspired to distribute cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, and oxycodone in Franklin County.  The defendant supplied drugs to others from his residence in Rangeley, Maine and later from his residence in New Sharon, Maine.

Only July 28, 2016, the defendant shot and killed one of two men who came to his Rangeley residence to rob him. The second man fled and was later captured by federal agents.  Investigators responding to the robbery seized from the defendant’s residence a large quantity of cocaine, $20,883, drug scales, drug packaging materials, cellular telephones, drug ledgers and a Beretta 9mm semi-automatic handgun used during the shooting. 

“This case demonstrates that drug dealing is a violent, criminal business,” said U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank.  “One man is dead.  Another is going to spend over a decade in prison.  We intend to do everything we can to get guns out of the hands of drug dealers.”

The case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office; the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives; the Maine State Police; and the Rangeley Police Department; with assistance provided by the Maine Office of the Attorney General. This case was investigated 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 Robert Gay, 35, of Gardiner, Maine pled guilty today in U.S. District Court to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to court records, on June 2, 2018, the defendant was hired to perform plumbing work at a residence in Scarborough, Maine.  While working in the basement, the defendant came across and later stole a rifle that belonged to the homeowner.  A search of the defendant’s cell phone revealed text conversations reflecting that the defendant stole the rifle and sold it to another individual.  The purchaser was identified and the rifle was recovered and returned to the homeowner.  The defendant was prohibited from possessing the rifle because he had two prior felony convictions for theft.

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 Scarborough and Gardiner Police Departments 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 Timothy Levesque, 53, of Trenton, Maine, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to court records, on the evening of May 12, 2018, the U.S. Coast Guard boarded the defendant’s boat off the coast of Lamoine, Maine while conducting a routine maritime safety and law enforcement patrol.  The boat was registered to the defendant and he was the only person on board at the time.  A search of the pilot house revealed four firearms within feet of where the defendant had been sitting.  The defendant was aware that the firearms were on the boat and was prohibited from possessing firearms as the result of prior felony drug possession convictions.

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 U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and the Maine Marine Patrol.

Bangor, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Jeffrey Johnson, 58, of Gardiner, Maine, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr.  to three years in prison and three years of supervised release for conspiring to distribute heroin and cocaine base, commonly known as “crack.” He was also ordered to pay a $1,000 fine.  The defendant pled guilty on May 24, 2018.

According to court records, between June 2015 and March 2017, Johnson conspired with others to acquire heroin, fentanyl and crack in Rochester, New York and transport it to Central Maine for distribution. The defendant allowed Rochester dealers to sell narcotics from his residence, then in Chelsea, Maine, set up drug deals and provided transportation for drug deals. 

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 Police Department. This case was investigated 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 Austin Santoro, 23, of York, Maine, pled guilty today in U.S. District Court to transmitting threatening interstate communications and identity theft.

According to court documents, in January, the defendant sent an email to employees of the Portsmouth, New Hampshire Police Department at their departmental email addresses threatening to sexually assault them at gunpoint. The defendant used an email “spoofing” service to make it appear that the email had been sent by the police chief.

On the same day, the defendant sent an email to employees of the York County Community College at their work addresses threatening to sexually assault them at gunpoint. The defendant used the same spoofing service to make it appear that the email had been sent by a college employee.

The defendant faces up to five years in prison for the threat charges, up to 20 years for the identity theft charges, and a $250,000 fine on each.  He will be sentenced after the completion of a pre-sentence investigation report by the U.S Probation Office.

The investigation was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.

Portland, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Jason Bolduc, 41, of Parsonsfield, Maine was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge George Z. Singal to 150 months in prison and three years of supervised release for conspiring to distribute fentanyl.  Bolduc pled guilty on May 23, 2018.

Court records reveal that, between September 2016 and January 2017, the defendant conspired with others to purchase large amounts of fentanyl in Lawrence, Massachusetts for distribution in Maine.  On January 13, 2017, federal and state drug agents apprehended Bolduc as he returned from one of his resupply trips and seized about 150 “fingers” (about 1,500 grams) of fentanyl from Bolduc and found in a vehicle he rented. 

This case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, the York County Sheriff’s Office and the Biddeford Police Department 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 David L. Cook, 61, of Burnham, Maine, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr., to 15 years in prison and 10 years of supervised release for using the internet to access child pornography intending to view it.  Cook pleaded guilty on October 10, 2017.  Because he had a prior qualifying conviction, he faced a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years.

Court records reveal that in August 2016, the Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit (MCCU) received a report from Microsoft that a user had uploaded an image of child pornography.  Federal and state officers obtained a physical address for that user, executed a warrant at that address, and seized the defendant’s computer.  The MCCU’s forensic examination of the computer revealed over 30 images of child pornography and that the defendant searched the internet for child pornography on dozens of occasions between March and August, 2016.

The case was investigated by the MCCU and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.  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.

Portland, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Michael A. Morrison, 42, of Rockland, Maine, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to health care fraud and embezzlement from a health care benefit program. 

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.

The defendant also embezzled over $26,000 from the Health Club by using a Health Club credit card to pay for personal Amazon.com purchases and stole about $4,500 in cash that he failed to deposit to the Health Club’s bank account.

The defendant faces up to ten years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 on each count.  He 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 Maine Attorney General’s Office, Healthcare Crimes Unit; the Department of  Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General; and the Rockland Police Department. 

Bangor, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Deborah Toothaker, 55, of Pittsfield, Maine, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. to 46 months in prison and three years of  supervised release for conspiring to distribute oxycodone and heroin.  She pled guilty on July 23, 2018.

According to court records, between June 2015 and October 2016, Toothaker conspired with others to distribute oxycodone and heroin in the Newport, Maine area. The defendant obtained the heroin and oxycodone from out-of-state co-conspirators and sold it to customers from her residence and area motels.

Judge Woodcock said that the sentence was warranted because the defendant “chose to make money off other people’s misery.”

The case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Somerset County Sheriff’s Department 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 Nicole Truman, 36, of Gardiner, Maine, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. to 70 months in prison and three years of supervised release for conspiring to distribute heroin, cocaine base, commonly known as “crack,” and fentanyl.  She pled guilty on May 24, 2018.

According to court records, between June 2015 and March 2017, Truman conspired with others to acquire heroin and crack in Rochester, New York and transport it to Central Maine for distribution. The defendant assisted the head of the conspiracy, Darrell “Coast” Newton, and other dealers he sent from Rochester in distributing the narcotics in Central Maine. She provided transportation, facilitated drug deals, introduced Rochester conspirators to area distributors, assisted other conspirators in finding residences from which to sell drugs, and was a money courier.

Following her indictment in May 2017, she fled to Missouri where she was arrested several months later and returned to Maine.

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 Police Department. This case was investigated 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 Sierrha Frisbie, 26, of Auburn, Maine, pled guilty today in U.S. District Court to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin. 

According to court records, between November 2015 and September 2017, the defendant conspired with others to acquire heroin in Massachusetts and New York and to distribute it in the greater Portland and Lewiston areas. In December 2015, she was arrested by troopers on the turnpike at the York toll plaza and found to have 38 grams of heroin in her possession. 

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

The case was investigated by the Portland and South Portland Police Departments, the Maine State Police, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the FBI, and the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency. The Cumberland and York County District Attorney’s Offices assisted with the prosecution.  This case was 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 Marena Mushero, 28, recently of Hampden, Maine, pled guilty today in U.S. District Court to 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.  

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

The investigation was conducted by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and the Brewer Police Department.  

Bangor, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Lynda Johnson, 30, of Brewer, Maine, pled guilty in U.S. District Court  to possession with the intent to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base, commonly known as “crack,” and heroin and  being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. 

According to court records, on April 18, 2018, the defendant was found in possession of crack and heroin, a .380 caliber pistol and about $6,300 in cash following a car stop by police. An ensuing search of her Brewer residence let to the seizure of a .22 caliber derringer, ammunition, and drug paraphernalia.  A second search of her vehicle led to the seizure of crack and heroin that had not been discovered during the initial search of the vehicle. The defendant was prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition as the result of felony drug and aggravated assault convictions in Maine.

On the drug charge, the defendant faces between 10 years and life, an $8,000,000 fine, and between eight years and life on supervised release.  On the gun charge, the defendant faces up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and up to a three years of supervised release.  She will be sentenced after the completion of a pre-sentence investigation report by the U.S Probation Office.

The case was investigated by the Brewer Police Department, with assistance provided by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.  The Penobscot County District Attorney’s Office assisted with the prosecution.  This case 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 Zulairam Ramos, 31, of Orlando, Florida, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Chief Judge Nancy Torresen to two years of probation with 120 hours of community service for access device fraud and conspiracy to commit access device fraud. Ramos pleaded guilty on January 3.

Court records show that between October 2016 and March 2017, Ramos and three co-defendants used stolen credit and debit card numbers belonging to Maine residents to fraudulently purchase merchandise and gift cards at Maine stores. 

Ramos’s co-defendants were sentenced on September 5. Alejandro Caal was sentenced to 10 months in prison, Adrian Teruel was sentenced to 12 months, and Olga Valido was sentenced to nine months. The defendants were also ordered to serve three years of supervised release upon their release from prison.

The case was investigated by the Falmouth, Augusta, Scarborough, South Portland and Winthrop Police Departments, the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office, and the U.S. Secret Service.

Bangor, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Melina Snead, a/k/a “Lady,” 25, of Rochester, New York, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. to 2½ years in prison and three years of supervised release for conspiring to distribute heroin and cocaine base, commonly known as “crack.”  The defendant pled guilty on May 24, 2018.

According to court records, between June 2015 and March 2017, Snead conspired with others to acquire heroin and crack in Rochester and transport it to Central Maine for distribution. The defendant sold the drugs from several “trap houses” in Central Maine.

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 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 Tristan Nelson, 39, of Madawaska, Maine was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. to 1½ years in prison and three years of supervised release for illegally importing methylphenidate, which is commonly sold under the trade name Ritalin, and alprazolam, which is commonly sold under the trade name Xanax.  The defendant pled guilty on March 7, 2018.

According to court records, on February 22, 2017, a mail package from the Philippines addressed to the defendant arrived at the Madawaska post office.  The package contained about 950 methylphenidate pills and about 450 alprazolam pills.  The defendant came to the post office and accepted the package.  The defendant later admitted to agents that he purchased the pills online, that he knew the pills were shipped to him from outside of the United States, and that he intended to distribute some of the pills. 

The investigation was conducted by U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency.  

Bangor, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Sherri Chen, 55, of Hampden, Maine was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. to 1½ years in prison and three years of supervised release for maintaining a drug-involved premises.

According to court records, between January 2016 and February 2017, Chen allowed her residence on the Main Road in Hampden to be used to distribute and use heroin and cocaine base, commonly known as “crack.”

Judge Woodcock described the defendant’s decision to provide a “safe haven” for drug dealers from Connecticut, as “deplorable.” Chen received drugs for allowing her residence to be used in this manner.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and 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 Richard Bailey, 67, of Gardiner, Maine, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge Jon D. Levy to 25 years in prison and a lifetime of supervised release for production and possession of child pornography.  The defendant pled guilty to these charges on June 18, 2018.

According to court records, law enforcement agents received information that the defendant was uploading images of child pornography to various websites.  Based on this information, they obtained a search warrant for the defendant’s home in Gardiner.  During the execution of the search warrant, the defendant admitted that agents would find multiple images of child pornography involving underage boys on his electronic devices.  The investigation revealed that the defendant produced child pornography by encouraging adults in the Philippines during online chats to engage in sexual activity with children that was videotaped, photographed, and disseminated in real time over the internet. A forensic examination of the defendant’s electronic devices revealed multiple images and videos of child pornography including images obtained from the Philippine sex shows.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, 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.

Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Cuwan Merritt, 30, of Brooklyn, New York, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge D. Brock Hornby to 44 months in prison for crack cocaine trafficking.  Merritt was convicted following a two-day jury trial in July 2018.

On May 12, 2017, Merritt and Michael Artis travelled from Boston intending to sell crack in Lewiston.  Law enforcement agents intercepted the vehicle in which they were traveling when they reached Auburn.  A police dog alerted to the presence of narcotics on both men.  Agents seized 57 pre-packaged .5g bags of crack from Artis and later seized crack that Merritt had secreted in his body.

Artis pled guilty to the same charge on June 28, 2018 and awaits sentencing.

The investigation was conducted by the U.S Drug Enforcement Administration in conjunction with the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, the Auburn and Lewiston Police Departments and the Maine State Police.

Bangor, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Derrius Smalls, 20, of Rochester, New York was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Bangor, Maine to three years in prison and a three year term of supervised release, including a six month term of community confinement, following his conviction for possession with the intent to distribute crack cocaine and heroin.

According to court records, on March 9, 2017, Smalls ran from a vehicle carrying 550 bags of heroin and 399 bags of crack cocaine when the vehicle he was in was stopped by state and federal agents in Scarborough, Maine. Smalls managed to hide the drugs and avoid arrest that night.  Smalls was transporting the drugs for Darrell “Coast” Newton and intended to deliver them to an individual in Maine.  The following day, a Scarborough Police Department K-9 located the drugs. 

Smalls was subsequently indicted together with Newton and fourteen other defendants from Rochester, New York and Central Maine.  All defendants have entered pleas of guilty.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, with assistance provided by the Scarborough Police Department and the Maine State Police.

Bangor, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Reginald McBride, 41, of New York, New York, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. to 13 years and 4 months in jail and 5 years of supervised release for being a felon in possession of a firearm, possessing heroin with the intent to distribute it, and using a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking offense.  The charges arose out of a June 26, 2016 shooting at the Walmart in Augusta, Maine.  The defendant was convicted of these charges on March 14, 2018 after a three-day jury trial.

The evidence at trial revealed that on June 26, 2016, the defendant drove a vehicle to the Augusta Walmart carrying over 40 grams of heroin and a 9-mm pistol. When the defendant got to the Walmart, he engaged in a firefight with another individual. After the shooting, the defendant fled in his vehicle. Officers located the defendant and recovered the heroin.  Officers later seized a loaded revolver, two more firearms, ammunition, a speed loader, and a scope from the vehicle.

Trial evidence revealed that the defendant used numerous aliases including “Kweasia McBride,” “Reggie McBride,” “Reginald Washington,” “Benjamin McBride,” “John Doe,” and “Sunny.”  The defendant had prior felony convictions from Virginia and New York under a combination of these aliases. 

The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Augusta Police Department; the Kennebec County Sheriff’s Office; the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency; the Maine State Police Crime Laboratory; and the Bangor and Hallowell Police Departments.

Bangor, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Floyd Chase, 48, of Brewer, Maine, pled guilty in U.S. District Court to conspiracy to make false statements to a federal firearms licensee. 

According to court records, in February 2018, the Brewer Police Department seized a .380 caliber handgun while executing a narcotics trafficking search warrant in Brewer.  A trace of the firearm revealed that it had been purchased about ten days earlier at an area firearms dealer. Further investigation revealed that the defendant, and others came up with a plan for one of them to falsely claim that she was buying the gun for herself, when in fact, the actual buyer was another individual. The defendant accompanied the two others to the firearms dealer and then directed the woman to purchase the firearm.

The defendant faces up to five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release.

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.

Bangor, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Frankie Dejesus, 28, of Rochester, New York, 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 June 2015 and March 2017, Dejesus conspired with others to acquire heroin, fentanyl and crack in Rochester and to distribute it 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.

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

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 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 Zafar Iqbal-Khan, 46, previously of Pakistan, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Magistrate Judge John C. Nivison to eight months in prison for failure to comply with the terms of release under supervision.  The defendant pled guilty on June 8, 2018.

According to court records, in 1999, Khan, a citizen of Pakistan, entered the United States as a non-immigrant visitor. He was required to depart by February 2000, but never did.  In September 2005, he was ordered removed by an immigration judge.  In December 2006, January 2009, and June 2015, he was released from immigration custody after executing Orders of Supervision that required him to not commit any crimes.  On February 23, 2018, Khan pled guilty in a Maine district court to operating under the influence, operating a vehicle without a license, failure to appear in court, and forgery. 

The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations.

Bangor, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Stephen G. Olivo, 58, formerly of Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, and most recently of Caribou, Maine pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to failing to register as a sex offender. 

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 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. Marshal’s Service.

Portland, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Bobby Mataara Owens, 41, of Turangi, New Zealand, was sentenced on Wednesday in U.S. District Court by Chief Judge Nancy Torresen to five years in prison and by ten years of supervised release for transporting child pornography. Owens pleaded guilty on September 1, 2017.

According to court records, in December 2016, a federal agent in Maine was investigating the sharing of child pornography over the internet. The agent chatted online with Owens, who sent the agent several images of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Further investigation revealed that Owens was using an IP address assigned to a residence in Valley Village, California. A federal search warrant was obtained for the residence and executed later the same day. Owens was present at the residence, and admitted to investigators that he had sent the images to the agent earlier in the day.

The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the FBI and the Los Angeles, California Police Department. The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. 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.justice.gov/psc.

A German shipping company, MST Mineralien Schiffahrt Spedition und Transport GmbH (MST), pleaded guilty and was sentenced today in Portland, Maine, for obstruction of justice and for maintaining false official records to conceal deliberate pollution from one of its ships, the M/V Marguerita, announced Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey B. Clark for the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division and United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank for the District of Maine.

MST pleaded guilty today to one count of violating the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships and one count of obstruction of justice for using falsified log books to hide intentional discharges of oily bilge waste occurring over a nine-month period during which the ship regularly made port calls in Portland, Maine. U.S. District Court Judge Nancy Torresen sentenced the company pursuant to a plea agreement and ordered it to pay a $3.2 million criminal fine and serve a four-year term of probation during which vessels operated by the company will be required to implement an environmental compliance plan, including inspections by an independent auditor.

“Today’s action demonstrates that the Coast Guard and the Justice Department will not stand by while foreign vessels intentionally pollute our oceans and then try to cover up their criminal acts by lying to the U.S. Coast Guard,” said Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey Bossert Clark. “This company is a repeat offender, which makes plain that it has shown contempt for the rule of law. I applaud the investigators and prosecutors who obtained this result.”

MST, a vessel operator based in Bavaria, Germany, was convicted of similar environmental crimes in the District of Minnesota in 2016. That federal case involved the falsification of the oil record book for the M/V Cornelia, which concealed deliberate discharges of oil-contaminated bilge waste, including discharges into the Great Lakes. MST was on probation in the District of Minnesota when it committed the crimes charged in Maine.

According to documents filed in court, MST discharged oily bilge waste from the Marguerita through the use of a so-called “magic pipe” that bypasses required pollution prevention equipment. The discharges violated MARPOL, an international treaty and were not recorded in the vessel’s oil record book, a required ship log regularly inspected by the U.S. Coast Guard to assure compliance.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service with assistance from the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Northern New England which conducted the inspection of the ship. The prosecution was handled by Trial Attorney John Cashman and Senior Litigation Counsel Richard Udell of the Environmental Crimes Section of the U.S. Department of Justice, with assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine.

Portland, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Tony Leonard, a/k/a “Tom Cat,” 49, of Lewiston, Maine, pled guilty today in U.S. District Court to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to court records, on August 17, 2017, the Lewiston Police Department executed a search warrant at Leonard’s Lewiston residence and seized a Glock .40 caliber handgun and a loaded magazine concealed inside of his jacket located in a bedroom.  Leonard was prohibited from possessing the handgun because of prior felony convictions for drug trafficking, forgery, and aggravated assault.

The defendant faces up to ten years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and up to 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 Lewiston Police Department, with assistance provided by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  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 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.

Bangor, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Simon Grenier, 51, of Saint Zacharie, Quebec, Canada was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court by U.S. Magistrate Judge John C. Nivison to time served (15 days) for illegally entering into the United States.

According to court records, on October 16, 2018, a Border Patrol Agent and a Maine Game Warden located the defendant in Township 5, Range 20 near the border by following his fresh boot tracks from the border.  The defendant entered the United States illegally to hunt moose. 

The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Border Patrol and the Maine Warden Service.

Bangor, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Steven P. Springer II, 26, of Pittsfield, Maine, was sentenced today by Chief Judge Nancy Torresen to 36 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for providing false information during the purchase of firearms.  Springer pleaded guilty on May 29, 2018.

According to court records, on February 22, 2015, Springer purchased a Kel-Tec PF9 semi-automatic pistol from a federally licensed firearms dealer.  In connection with the purchase, Springer completed a Firearms Transaction Record form in which he falsely reported that he was the actual purchaser of the firearm.  On February 24, 2015, Springer purchased two Kel-Tec P11 pistols from another federally licensed dealer, again falsely reporting on the form that he was the actual purchaser of the firearms.  On both occasions, Springer 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.  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 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 announced today that his office, in cooperation with Maine State officials, will participate in the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 6, 2018 general elections.  The program is designed to handle complaints in the District of Maine of election fraud and voting rights abuses in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington and the State of Maine Attorney General’s Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys (AUSAs) John G. Osborn and Andrew McCormack have been appointed to serve as the District Election Officers (DEOs) for the District of Maine.  Maine Assistant Attorney General (AAG) Phyllis Gardiner and Deputy Secretary of State Julie Flynn will coordinate election oversight for the State of Maine. Attorney Zachary Heiden of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Maine will also be available to assist anyone who experiences difficulty in exercising their right to vote.

“Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote counted without it being stolen because of fraud,” said U.S. Attorney Frank.  “The Department of Justice will act promptly and aggressively to protect the integrity of the election process.”

The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring election fraud and discrimination at the polls, and combating these violations whenever and wherever they occur.  The Department’s long-standing Election Day Program furthers these goals, and also seeks to ensure public confidence in the integrity of the election process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible election fraud and voting rights violations while the polls are open on Election Day.

Federal law protects against such crimes as intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input.  It also contains special protections for the rights of voters, and provides that they can vote free from acts that intimidate or harass them.  For example, actions of persons designed to interrupt or intimidate voters at polling places by questioning or challenging them, or by photographing or videotaping them, under the pretext that these are actions to uncover illegal voting may violate federal voting rights law.  Further, federal law protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice (where voters need assistance because of disability or illiteracy).

Voting is the cornerstone of American democracy.  We all must ensure that those who are entitled to vote exercise it if they choose, and that those who seek to corrupt it are brought to justice.  In order to respond to complaints of election fraud or voting rights abuses on November 6, 2018, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, U.S. Attorney Frank stated that AUSAs/DEOs Osborn and McCormack will be on duty in his office while the polls are open.  They can be reached by the public at the following telephone numbers: (207) 771-3214 (AUSA Osborn) and (207) 262-4615 (AUSA McCormack).

In addition, the FBI will have special agents available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on Election Day.  The local FBI field office can be reached by the public at (207) 774-9322.

AAG Phyllis Gardiner may be contacted at the Attorney General’s Office by calling: (207) 626-8830.   Deputy Secretary of State Flynn can be reached at (207) 624-7650.  Attorney Zachary Heiden of the ACLU of Maine will be available at (207) 650-9535.

Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division’s Voting Section in Washington, DC by phone at 1-800-253-3931 or (202) 307-2767, by fax at (202) 307-3961, by email to voting.section@usdoj.gov or by complaint form at http://www.justice.gov/crt/complaint/votintake/index.php.

U.S. Attorney Frank said, “Ensuring free and fair elections depends in large part on the cooperation of the American electorate.  It is imperative that those who have specific information about discrimination or election fraud make that information available immediately to my Office, the FBI, or the Civil Rights Division.”

Bangor, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that ANDRE FIELDS a/k/a “Coop,” a/k/a “Pops,” a/k/a “Boss,” a/k/a “Unc,” 52, of Bronx, New York, pled guilty in U.S. District Court in Bangor, Maine to conspiracy to distribute in excess of one kilogram of heroin and in excess of 280 grams of cocaine base (“crack”).  The charge carries a ten-year mandatory minimum prison term and up to life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, and at least five years of supervised release.

According to court records, between January 2015 and December 2017 Fields conspired with others to distribute in excess of one kilogram of heroin and in excess of 280 grams of cocaine base in central Maine.  Fields had access to out-of-state sources for the drugs.  Members of the conspiracy, including the defendant, would transport the drugs back to Maine. Once here, the defendant and others working at his direction would weigh out and repackage the drugs that were then distributed to central Maine area drug dealers and addicts for further distribution and use. The defendant and others would distribute the drugs from central Maine area residences and hotel rooms where he and others would stay.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance provided by the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, the Kennebec County Sheriff’s Office, the Augusta Police Department, and the Waterville 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 Diana Davis, a/k/a “Lil C,” 30, of Rochester, New York, pled guilty yesterday in U.S. District Court to conspiracy to distribute heroin, fentanyl and cocaine base, commonly known as “crack.” 

According to court records, between June 2015 and March 2017, Davis conspired with others to acquire heroin, fentanyl and crack in Rochester and to distribute it in Central Maine. The defendant and others were 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.

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

The case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, and the Kennebec County Sheriff’s Department, with assistance provided by the Augusta Police Department 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 Christopher Kruse, 50, of Skowhegan, Maine, pled guilty today in U.S. District Court to receiving and possessing child pornography.

According to court records, in November 2017, Kruse used the internet to receive several videos depicting child pornography, some depicting children under 12 years old.  He added these videos to a collection of child pornography he had kept on his personal computer since 2015.  The collection was discovered on November 28, 2017 when law enforcement agents executed a search warrant at Kruse’s home.  

Kruse faces between five to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and between five years and life on 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 Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office and the Bangor and Skowhegan Police Departments. 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.

Bangor, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Emelita Ignacio Arindela, a/k/a “Esperanza Ignacio Arindela,” “Esperanza Hooper,” “Emily I. Arindela,” and “Emily Ignacio Arindela,” 43, of Mount Desert Island, Maine, and previously of the Philippines, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge Jon D. Levy to time served (10 days) and one year of supervised release for passport fraud.  Arindela pleaded guilty on April 12, 2018.

According to court records, in 2000, the defendant assumed the name and date of birth of her older sister in order to marry a U.S. citizen in the City of Valenzuela, Philippines.  In 2002, she entered the United States under her sister’s identity.  In 2009, she became a naturalized U.S. citizen using her sister’s identity. Later that year, she legally changed her name to Emily I. Arindela.  In 2010, she applied for a U.S. passport using her new name and her sister’s date of birth.  

The case was investigated by the Diplomatic Security Service of the U.S. Department of State.

WASHINGTON:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank joined the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of the Interior (DOI) in announcing a dramatic expansion of the federal government’s key program that provides tribes with access to national crime information databases, DOJ’s Tribal Access Program for National Crime Information (TAP). The expansion includes the Penobscot Nation.

“I am pleased that the Penobscot Nation will have access to the FBI’s national crime databases through TAP,” said U.S. Attorney Frank.  “The ability to access and exchange crime information is extremely valuable.  It will enable tribal government to better investigate criminal activity, police their community, and keep their community safe.”

“Access to TAP-FULL, will equip the Penobscot Nation Law Enforcement Program with the means to effectively collaborate with all local and state law enforcement agencies, by informing them of persons that are needing protection orders served upon them, getting an accurate account to other agencies of the persons that have been arrested for criminal offenses with the tribe’s jurisdiction and that are out on bail with restrictions and those persons adjudicated and have certain probation conditions they have to abide by,” said Department of Public Safety Chief Robert Bryant.  “TAP will also allow us to better protect victims of domestic violence by having orders of abuse or harassment entered into National Crime Information Center (NCIC) in a timely manner. The result is a safer community.”

By the end of 2019, DOJ will expand the number of TAP participating tribes by more than 50 percent—from 47 tribes to 72.  DOI will fund the instillation of TAP Kiosks at three locations where the BIA-Office of Indian Services (BIA-OIS) deliver direct service social services by the end of 2019 and DOI aims to expand TAP access at all 28 BIA-Office of Justice Services (BIA-OJS) operated law enforcement agencies and detention service centers.  These BIA locations will provide some degree of access to TAP for services delivered to more than 50 tribal communities that currently do not have any direct access. 

“Access to information is vital to effective law enforcement,” said Trent Shores, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Oklahoma and the Chairman of the Attorney General’s Native American Issues Subcommittee (NAIS).  “TAP will enhance and improve the ability of tribal law enforcement officers to serve their communities. The Native American Issues Subcommittee is proud to support the continued expansion of this tool throughout Indian Country.”

The NAIS is comprised of U.S. Attorneys with Indian Country in their federal districts. They advise the Attorney General regarding the development and implementation of policies pertaining to justice in Indian Country. The NAIS identified “increased law enforcement resources” as one of four priority areas to improve justice services in Indian Country. Support for and increased dissemination of the TAP was unanimously supported by the U.S. Attorneys at a recent NAIS meeting in Indian Country in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

TAP, offered in two versions, TAP-FULL and TAP-LIGHT, allows tribes to more effectively serve and protect their communities by fostering the exchange of critical data through several national databases through the FBI’s Criminal Justice Information Systems network, including the NCIC, Next Generation Identification, National Data Exchange, National Instant Criminal Background Check System, Law Enforcement Enterprise Portal as well as other national systems such as the International Justice and Public Safety Network.   TAP enhances tribal efforts to register sex offenders pursuant to the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act; have orders of protection enforced nationwide; protect children; keep firearms away from persons who are disqualified from receiving them; improve the safety of public housing, and allow tribes to enter their arrests and convictions into national databases.

TAP-FULL consists of a kiosk workstation that provide access to national systems and is capable of processing finger and palm prints, as well as taking mugshots and submitting records to national databases. TAP-LIGHT is software for criminal agencies that include police departments, prosecutors, criminal courts, jails, and probation departments. Both versions provide federally recognized tribes the ability to access and exchange data with national crime information databases for both civil and criminal purpose.  TAP is currently available to 47 tribes nationwide with over 220 tribal criminal justice and civil agencies participating.

For more information on TAP, including a list and map of present TAP-FULL and TAP-LIGHT tribes, visit www.justice.gov/tribal/tribal-access-program-tap

For more information about the DOJ’s work on tribal justice and public safety issues, visit:  www.justice.gov/tribal.

Bangor, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Daniel F. Dyer, 57, of Plaster Rock, New Brunswick, Canada was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge Jon D. Levy to 30 days in prison for importing illegally-taken moose antlers and a moose hide. He was also fined $5,000.  He pled guilty on May 17, 2018.

According to court records, on September 28, 2013, Dyer, a Canadian outfitter and guide, arranged for Richard Eaton, a West Virginia resident, to unlawfully harvest a moose in New Brunswick using a license issued to a New Brunswick resident.  Dyer later brought the hide and antlers of the moose through Maine. Dyer delivered the hide to a taxidermist in Pennsylvania and the antlers to Eaton in West Virginia.  In 2014, Eaton was convicted in federal court of receiving the illegally-taken moose.

In imposing the sentence, Judge Levy found that Dyer had obstructed justice by instructing Eaton to falsely claim that another Canadian guide had shot the moose and said the cover-up was as bad as, or worse than, the crime itself.

The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Wildlife Enforcement Division of Environment Canada (New Brunswick).

Bangor, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Jamie Betances, a/k/a “Booger,” “Booga,” Buga,” “Ice,” 30, of Rochester, New York, pled guilty today in U.S. District Court to conspiracy to distribute heroin, fentanyl and cocaine base, commonly known as “crack.”

According to court records, between June 2015 and March 2017, Betances conspired with others to acquire heroin, fentanyl and crack in Rochester and to distribute it 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.

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

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 Police Department 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 Nicholas Veelenturf, 31, of Dorchester, Massachusetts, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Senior Judge George Z. Singal to two years in prison and three years of supervised release for conspiring with others to steal checks from the mail in Maine and to cash counterfeit versions of those checks at banks in Massachusetts.  He was also ordered to pay $15,710.33 in restitution.  Veelenturf pled guilty on June 19, 2018. 

According to court records, in September 2016, two business checks were stolen from the mail in Scarborough, Maine.  The intended recipients of these checks were businesses located in an industrial park in Scarborough.  About two weeks later, the defendant and another person cashed or attempted to cash counterfeit versions of the two checks at several TD Bank branch locations in Massachusetts.  The routing and account numbers for each business had been printed on different check stock, the check amounts had been significantly increased, and the names of the payees had been altered to either the defendant’s or the other person’s name.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

Portland, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Wender Santos, a/k/a “Carlos,” 24, of Lawrence, Massachusetts, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge Jon D. Levy to 130 months in prison and three years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, fentanyl, and aiding and abetting the possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.  The defendant pled guilty on April 3.

Court records reveal that in 2016, Santos conspired with Rafael Buli and others to distribute fentanyl in the Lawrence area.  Maine drug customers contacted Santos, who they knew only as “Carlos,” to place orders for distributable quantities of fentanyl.  Santos then directed his drug couriers, including Buli, to meet with his Maine customers to consummate the drug transactions.  On September 1, 2016, federal and state agents stopped a Maine customer after Santos and Buli sold the customer about 400 grams of fentanyl.  The agents located the fentanyl inside a “trap” compartment of a vehicle that Santos furnished to the customer.  Agents identified Santos, learned that he had an apartment in Tewksbury, Massachusetts, searched the apartment on December 12, 2016 pursuant to a warrant, and seized about $14,000, cell phones and a money counter.

The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Maine State Police 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 Derek Blake, 32, of Sidney, Maine, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Senior Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr., to 3½ years in prison and three years of supervised release for conspiring to distribute heroin and cocaine base, commonly known as “crack,” and maintaining a drug-involved premises.

According to court records, between June 2015 and March 2017, Blake conspired with others to acquire heroin and crack in Rochester, New York and transport it to Central Maine for distribution. The defendant assisted Rochester dealers in distributing the drugs from his Sidney residence, served as a “middle-man” for drugs deals, introduced dealers to drug customers in Central Maine and provided transportation for the dealers and their drugs. 

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 Police Department 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 Derek Blake, 32, of Sidney, Maine, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Senior Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr., to 3½ years in prison and three years of supervised release for conspiring to distribute heroin and cocaine base, commonly known as “crack,” and maintaining a drug-involved premises.

According to court records, between June 2015 and March 2017, Blake conspired with others to acquire heroin and crack in Rochester, New York and transport it to Central Maine for distribution. The defendant assisted Rochester dealers in distributing the drugs from his Sidney residence, served as a “middle-man” for drugs deals, introduced dealers to drug customers in Central Maine and provided transportation for the dealers and their drugs. 

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 Police Department 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 Jamie Akerson, 57, of Newport, Maine, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Senior Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. to 160 months in prison and five years of supervised release for conspiring to distribute more than a kilogram of heroin. The defendant pled guilty on April 14, 2017.

According to court records, between May 2015 and January 2016, Akerson conspired with Todd Shorey and others to acquire large quantities of heroin on a weekly basis from an out-of-state supplier and to have it distributed by others throughout Central Maine.  

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 Police Department 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 Erica Oliveira, 29, of Hermon, Maine, pled guilty today 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 February 2017, Oliveira conspired with others to acquire heroin, fentanyl and crack in Waterbury, Connecticut and distribute it in Penobscot County. The defendant allowed her Hermon residence to be used to distribute heroin and facilitated the drug dealing activities of others. 

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

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