District of Maine

Portland, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Naquan Eley, 33, of Brooklyn, New York, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge D. Brock Hornby to six years in prison and five years of supervised release for conspiring to distribute heroin and cocaine base, commonly known as “crack.”  He pleaded guilty on October 11, 2017.

Court records reveal that between September and December 2014, the defendant conspired with others to distribute more than 28 grams of crack and more than 100 grams of heroin. The drugs were acquired in New York, transported to Maine, and distributed in Androscoggin County.  On December 18, 2014, law enforcement agents searched two vacant apartments used by members of this conspiracy and seized crack, heroin and four firearms. Eley is the 27th defendant to be sentenced in connection with this investigation.

The investigation was conducted by the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency and the FBI in conjunction with the Southern Maine Gang Task Force, which is comprised of agents and officers from the FBI; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations; and the Portland, South Portland, and Lewiston Police Departments. The investigation was part of the ongoing effort of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), a partnership between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.  The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply.

Portland, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Brian J. Bilodeau, 33, of Auburn, Maine, was arrested yesterday and charged today by criminal complaint in U.S. District Court with illegal possession of a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime and possession with intent to distribute marijuana.

According to the complaint, the charges arose from an investigation into a drug trafficking organization located in the Lewiston-Auburn area that is alleged to have grown and distributed large quantities of marijuana in violation of federal law, and under the cover of, but in violation of, Maine’s Medical Marijuana program. The organization cultivated marijuana at numerous warehouses in Androscoggin County and distributed marijuana to people who were not participants in Maine’s Medical Marijuana program, including out-of-state customers.  This organization also grew marijuana as a precursor for the illegal manufacture of marijuana concentrates known as butane hash oil and “shatter,” a product made from butane hash oil. 

Yesterday, federal, state and local law enforcement agents executed over 20 search warrants in the Lewiston-Auburn area associated with the organization.  The defendant’s Danville Corner Road residence was searched.  Agent seized about 183 pounds of marijuana, butane hash oil, a loaded .380 caliber pistol, a loaded 9mm pistol, an unloaded .45 caliber pistol, and an unloaded .22 caliber rifle.  Agents also seized a 2016 Lamborghini Huracan and a black 2014 Nissan GT-R pursuant to seizure warrants on the basis that they were forfeitable as proceeds of drug trafficking, facilitated drug trafficking, or were involved in money laundering offenses.

If convicted, the defendant faces up to 20 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine on the drug charge and between 5 years and life in prison and a $250,000 fine on the firearms charge.

The defendant is expected to make an initial appearance in U.S. District Court today at 4:00 p.m. in Portland.

The investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the FBI; the Maine State Police; and the Lewiston, Auburn, Windham, Biddeford and Scarborough Police Departments.

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

Bangor, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Nina Michalski, 61, of Portland, Maine, pled guilty today in U.S. District Court to sending bomb threats through the mail.

According to court records, between October 2016 and February 2017, Michalski sent three letters from Maine to religious congregations in California.  These letters indicated that a bomb had been planted or would be planted in the congregations’ facilities. 

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

The investigation was conducted by the FBI, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Contra Costa County, California Sheriff’s Office, the Walnut Creek, California Police Department, and the San Ramon, California Police Department.

Portland, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Richard Daniels, a/k/a “Stitch”, 52, of Lewiston, Maine, was arrested and charged today by criminal complaint in U.S. District Court with possession with intent to distribute marijuana and manufacturing butane hash oil. 

According to the complaint, the charges arose from an investigation into a drug trafficking organization located in the Lewiston-Auburn area that is alleged to have grown and distributed large quantities of marijuana in violation of federal law, and under the cover of, but in violation of, Maine’s Medical Marijuana program. The organization cultivated marijuana at numerous warehouses in Androscoggin County and distributed marijuana to people who were not participants in Maine’s Medical Marijuana program, including out-of-state customers.  This organization also grew marijuana as a precursor for the illegal manufacture of marijuana concentrates known as butane hash oil and “shatter,” a product made from butane hash oil. 

Today, federal, state and local law enforcement agents executed over 20 search warrants in the Lewiston-Auburn area associated with the organization.  The defendant’s residence and garage were searched and agents seized over 50 kilograms of marijuana, six mason jars partially filled with butane hash oil, and a kilogram of shatter.  The defendant’s garage contained a butane hash oil laboratory.

If convicted, the defendant faces up to 20 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine.

The defendant is expected to make an initial appearance in U.S. District Court today at 4:30 p.m. in Portland.

The investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the FBI; the Maine State Police; and the Lewiston, Auburn, Windham, Biddeford and Scarborough Police Departments.

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

Bangor, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Ryan T. Card, 22, of Caribou, Maine, pled guilty today in U.S. District Court to possessing child pornography.

According to court records, between about November 2016 and April 2017, Card possessed images of child pornography in his cell phone.  At least one of these files, which he had sought out and downloaded from on-line storage accounts on the internet, depicted a child under the age of 12.

Card faces up to 20 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 U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Caribou Police Department, and the Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit.

Bangor, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Quindell Smallwood, a/k/a “Queezo,” 28, of Bangor was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Chief Judge Nancy Torresen to 20 months in prison and three years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute heroin, cocaine based, commonly known as crack, and oxycodone.

According to court records, between January 2013 and September 2015, Smallwood conspired with others to distribute crack, heroin and oxycodone in the Bangor area and elsewhere.  After the drugs were obtained from out-of-state sources and transported to Maine, Smallwood and others sold them to drug customers. 

The case was related to the prosecution of Mario Lee, a/k/a “Moe,” of Bangor, and formerly of the Bronx, New York, who was sentenced on May 5, 2017 to over 18 years for his role in the conspiracy. 

The case was investigated by the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. 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 today that North East Mobile Health Services (“North East”), of Scarborough, has entered into a civil settlement agreement with the U.S. in which it will pay $825,000 to resolve allegations that it violated the federal False Claims Act by providing medically unnecessary ambulance transportation.  Maine Medical Center (“MMC”), of Portland, also agreed to pay $600,000 pursuant to a separate civil settlement.    

North East’s settlement resolves allegations that it improperly billed Medicare for non-emergency ambulance transportation of patients discharged from MMC from 2007 onward.  The government alleged that North East improperly billed Medicare for ambulance transports of patients it falsely claimed were either “bed-confined” or for whom such transport was otherwise medically necessary.  The settlement also resolves allegations that North East knowingly retained Medicare overpayments.

MMC’s settlement resolves allegations that MMC personnel provided North East with statements containing incomplete or inaccurate information about the medical necessity of transporting patients by ambulance, which North East thereafter used to bill Medicare.

Both North East and MMC cooperated with the investigation.  Federal authorities encourage health care providers to cooperate with investigations involving the possible submission of false claims to federal programs. 

The case was investigated by the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.  The civil action is docketed United States v. North East Mobile Health Services, 2:18-cv-00081-NT (D. Me.).

Bangor, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that John Martin, 39, of Houlton, Maine pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to illegally possessing firearms. 

According to court records, between October and December 2016, the defendant purchased three pistols and two rifles from a business in Maine. On July 26, 2017, a search warrant was executed at the defendant’s residence and officers seized one of the rifles. The defendant was prohibited from possessing firearms because of an April 2016 conviction in Maine for misdemeanor domestic violence assault.

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 U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and the Houlton Police Department.  This case is brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative that brings together federal, state and local law enforcement to combat gun crime. PSN Maine uses a targeted enforcement strategy for offenders who have prior domestic violence convictions. 

Bangor, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Anthony G. Berry, 49, of Bangor, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. to three months in prison and three years of supervised release for conspiracy to transport stolen goods in interstate commerce.  He was also ordered to pay over $9,000 in restitution and a $9,000 fine.  Berry pled guilty on May 3, 2017. 

According to court records, between March and October 2014, Berry and others conspired to steal merchandise from Walmart, Hannaford, and other stores in Maine and to sell it online.  Berry and one of his co-conspirators received the stolen goods, marketed them online, and shipped the goods to buyers.   

The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Maine State Police, the Bangor Police Department, and the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office.

Bangor, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that James Mansfield, 33, of Etna, pleaded guilty yesterday in U.S. District Court to conspiring to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute marijuana. 

According to court records, during a period between October 2010 and August 2016, the defendant conspired with others to illegally manufacture and distribute marijuana. The defendant grew marijuana at a large, sophisticated indoor growing facility in Frankfort, Maine. In May 2016, law enforcement officers executed a federal search warrant at the facility and recovered about 400 marijuana plants, 295 marijuana root balls, and paraphernalia used to manufacture and process marijuana.  According to the search warrant affidavit, the defendant and his co-conspirators were not registered as medical marijuana caregivers with the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), and the location of the facility was not reported to DHHS.  

The defendant faces up to 20 years in prison, between three years and life of 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 investigation was conducted by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. 

Bangor, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Brandon Knox, 38, of Fairfield, Maine was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court by U.S. Magistrate Judge John C. Nivison to 39 days in prison and one year of supervised release for stealing Postal Money Orders.  He was also ordered to pay $485 in restitution.  He pleaded guilty to the charge on October 26, 2017.

Court records reveal Knox stole a pouch of money orders while working as a subcontractor at the Post Office in Unity, Maine.  He cashed three of the money orders totaling $485 at the Post Office in Waterville, Maine. 

The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

Portland, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced today that Pure Collection Ltd. (“Pure”) and its CEO, Samantha Harrison (“Harrison”), both of Harrogate, England, have entered into civil settlement agreements with the U.S. under which they will pay a total of $908,100 to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act (“FCA”). The FCA is the government’s primary civil remedy to redress false claims involving government funds.  

The settlements resolve allegations that Pure and Harrison improperly avoided U.S. customs duties owed on merchandise shipped from the United Kingdom to U.S. customers, including many customers in Maine. See United States ex rel. Patrick v. Pure Collection Ltd., 2:16-cv-00230-GZS (D. Me.).  Generally, U.S. customers owed no customs duties on single shipments of merchandise into the U.S. worth less than $200 (a limit later raised to $800). The complaint alleged that Pure and Harrison improperly evaded customs duties that would have been paid by U.S. customers by breaking up single shipments worth more than those amounts into multiple shipments of lesser value in order to avoid the applicable duties. 

The FCA action was originally filed by Andrew Patrick, a citizen of the United Kingdom, under the Act’s whistleblower, or qui tam, provisions that allow private individuals who have knowledge of fraud committed against the government to file lawsuits on the government’s behalf. The FCA permits the government to recover up to three times the amount of damages incurred by the U.S., in addition to civil penalties for each violation.  The government may also intervene and file its own lawsuit for damages and penalties, as it did in this case.  If the government prevails in the action, the whistleblower, also known as the relator, may receive a share of the recovery. Here, the government will pay the relator, Mr. Patrick, a share of the settlement proceeds.

The government was represented by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine, the National Courts Section of the Department of Justice, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.  Pure and Harrison cooperated throughout the investigation.

Portland, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Ryan Jones, 35 of Bath, Maine 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 embezzling $280,865 from a union during a period when he served as an officer of that union.  He was also ordered to pay $280,865 in restitution.  He pleaded guilty on September 6, 2017.

According to court records, from 2009 until January 2017, the defendant was the Secretary-Treasurer of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, Local Lodge S6, a labor union.  The defendant’s tenure ended when he failed to win re-election.  In January, the newly elected union officials discovered discrepancies with union finances.  The ensuing federal investigation revealed that the defendant made almost 200 unauthorized withdrawals from the union’s bank account, he fabricated monthly bank statements to conceal his withdrawals, he provided the fabricated bank statements to union auditors to deceive them, and he embezzled about $280,865 between May 2012 and November 2016. 

The investigation was conducted by the Bath Police Department; the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Labor-Management Standards; and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Bangor, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Amy Lynn Holmes, 46, of Calais, Maine was sentenced yesterday in U.S District Court by Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. to two months in prison and three years of supervised release for stealing over $96,000 in Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits.  SSI benefits are paid to people with limited income who are blind, disabled or elderly.  Holmes was also ordered to pay $33,821 in restitution.  She pleaded guilty on August 29, 2017.

Court records reveal that between February 2004 and May 2016, Holmes falsely represented to the Social Security Administration (SSA) that she was living alone and not receiving help or money from any person.  In fact, she was living with her husband who was providing her with financial assistance, Florida vacations and vehicles. She told investigators that she knew that she would have been ineligible for SSI if she had disclosed her husband’s income and that they were living together.

“This is a good example of the ongoing efforts by the Federal government to deter fraud against social security programs,” said U.S. Attorney Frank. "The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to prosecuting those in Maine who engage in government benefit fraud.  We hope that this prosecution and others like it will discourage people who are tempted to steal government benefits.”

The case was investigated by the SSA, Office of the Inspector General.

Bangor, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Nicholas Reynolds, 33, of Bangor, pleaded guilty yesterday in U.S. District Court to conspiring to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute marijuana. 

According to court records, during a period between October 2010 and August 2016, the defendant conspired with others to illegally manufacture and distribute marijuana. The defendant grew marijuana at a large, sophisticated indoor growing facility in Frankfort, Maine which he was told was an illegal medical marijuana grow. In May 2016, law enforcement officers executed a federal search warrant at the facility and recovered about 400 marijuana plants, 295 marijuana root balls, and paraphernalia used to manufacture and process marijuana.  According to the search warrant affidavit, the defendant and his co-conspirators were not registered as medical marijuana caregivers with the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), and the location of the facility was not reported to DHHS.  

The defendant faces up to 20 years in prison, between three years and life of 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 investigation was conducted by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. 

Portland, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Rusty Hood, 38, of Sanford, Maine, pled guilty today in U.S. District Court to transporting child pornography.

According to court records, in May 2016, Hood chatted online with an individual in Ohio. During the chat, the two men exchanged images of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Hood claimed during the chat that he was interested in babies, and that he had engaged in sexual activity with a young girl.

Hood faces between five and 20 years in prison, between five years and life on supervised release 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 U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit and the Sanford Police Department.

Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Hyunkook Korsiak, 36, of Harpswell, Maine was sentenced today by Chief Judge Nancy Torresen in U.S. District Court to 52 months in prison for theft of firearms from a federally licensed firearms dealer.

According to court records, on January 3, 2017, the defendant stole firearms from C&R Trading Post.  Brunswick Police discovered the theft when they responded to a burglar alarm and found a broken window near the building’s entrance.  The police, using a police dog, located several firearms, a sledgehammer and drops of blood on snow in nearby woods.  The blood was later determined to be the defendant’s.  Korsiak pled guilty to the charge last September. 

The case was investigated by the Sagadohoc County Sheriff’s Office; the Brunswick Police Department; and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Portland, Maine:  In recognition of January as National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank released the following statement:

“The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine (USAO) is committed to working with its law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute those who use violence and intimidation to exploit the labor and services of vulnerable victims.  The USAO also partners closely with a variety of non-governmental organizations to protect the safety and dignity of human trafficking victims.  The USAO is committed to rescuing human trafficking victims and prosecuting traffickers.”

The District of Maine is one of six districts designated through a competitive, nationwide selection process as a Phase II Anti-Trafficking Coordination Team (ACTeam), through the interagency ACTeam Initiative of the Departments of Justice, Homeland Security and Labor. ACTeams focus on developing high-impact human trafficking investigations and prosecutions involving forced labor, international sex trafficking and sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion through interagency collaboration among federal prosecutors and federal investigative agencies.

For more information about the causes of and ways to address human trafficking, please see the human trafficking public awareness materials created by the Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime, available at: https://ovc.ncjrs.gov/humantrafficking/publicawareness.html.

Bangor, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that David Jack, 43, of Bangor, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to possessing child pornography.

According to court records, in the summer of 2016, the defendant, while living in Bangor, used his cellular telephone to show images of children engaged in sexual activity to a 9-year-old girl.  Shortly thereafter, detectives with the Bangor Police Department obtained a search warrant for the defendant’s home and seized two laptop computers and a cellular telephone.  A forensic examination of those devices revealed over two thousand images of children, many of them prepubescent, engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

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 Bangor Police Department and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.

Portland, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Juan Carlos Martinez-Recarte, 38, a citizen of Honduras, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Chief Judge Nancy Torresen, to time served (about four months) in prison for illegally entering and being found in the United States after having been removed.  The defendant pleaded guilty on November 14, 2017. 

Court documents reveal that on September 20, 2017, a Maine State Police (MSP) trooper stopped a van in Portland being operated in violation of state law and found seven occupants, five of whom appeared to be foreign nationals who could not produce identification documents. Immigration officials were called to the traffic stop and determined that the defendant had no immigration documentation and was in the country illegally.  Immigration records showed that the defendant had been removed from the United States on two prior occasions, including, most recently, on November 1, 2013.

The case was investigated by the MSP and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Bangor, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Eliud Lopez-Baez, 32, a citizen of Mexico, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr., to time served (about two months) in prison for illegally entering and being found in the United States after having been removed.  The defendant pleaded guilty to the crime on December 11, 2017. 

Court documents reveal that on November 28, 2017, at about 7:50 a.m., U.S. Border Patrol agents found the defendant in a swamp in Hodgdon, Maine, a short distance from the international boundary.  The defendant had no immigration documents and admitted that he was a citizen of Mexico.  Immigration records showed that he had been removed from the United States in February 2017.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Border Patrol. 

Bangor, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Amanda K. Wentzell, 26, of Augusta, Maine, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr., to three months in prison and three years of supervised release for stealing mail when she was a U.S. Postal Service (USPS) employee.  She was also ordered to pay $510 in restitution. She pleaded guilty to the charge on May 10, 2017.

According to court documents, in February 2016, the defendant began working as a retail clerk in the post office in Temple, Maine.  In July 2016, a Temple resident complained that his son had not received a prepaid debit card sent to him by U.S. mail.  Investigation revealed that the defendant activated the debit card and used it to make two purchases totaling the $100 value of the debit card, she had been “rifling” mail, and between about April and August 2016, she took and opened several pieces of mail that were being processed by the post office.  On August 9, 2016, the defendant resigned her USPS position.

The case was investigated by the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office and the USPS, Office of Inspector General.

Portland, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Jonathan F. Cowles, 46, of Honolulu, Hawaii, and formerly of Rowley, Massachusetts, pleaded guilty on Tuesday in U.S. District Court to wire fraud. 

 According to court records and evidence introduced at the plea hearing, between March and June 2014, the defendant used interstate wires to skim over $25,000 in commissions to which he was not entitled from his employer, Maine Coast Shellfish, LLC (Maine Coast), a lobster wholesaler located in York, Maine.  As part of his fraudulent scheme, he also caused Maine Coast to ship about 50,000 lbs. of lobster worth about $360,000 to a customer in China whose true identity he concealed and for which Maine Coast was not paid.

 Cowles faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Under his plea agreement, Cowles has also agreed to pay Maine Coast almost $360,000 in restitution. He will be sentenced after completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office. 

 The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the York Police Department.

Bangor, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Mark Elkhorn, 58, of York, Maine pleaded guilty yesterday in U.S. District Court to making false statements to a federal law enforcement agent. 

According to court records, in October of 2015, an individual provided information to law enforcement regarding Elkhorn unlawfully trapping animals on Petit Manan National Wildlife Refuge.    The United States Fish and Wildlife Service investigated the matter.  Based upon evidence obtained during the investigation, including evidence obtained during the execution of a federal search warrant, Elkhorn was charged with multiple misdemeanors in Maine state court and was issued a federal citation. 

On December 11, 2016, Elkhorn sent a threatening text message from his cellular telephone to the individual who provided information to law enforcement about Elkhorn’s unlawful trapping activity. On January 6, 2017, in York, Maine, Elkhorn made false statements to a Federal Wildlife Officer about his involvement in the threatening text messages.

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

The investigation was conducted by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and that Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife.

Bangor, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that yesterday, United States District Judge John A. Woodcock sentenced Jonathan Gardiner, 31, of Glenburn, to 100 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for unlawfully possessing firearms.   Gardiner pleaded guilty to the charges on April 24, 2017. 

According to court records, on November 13, 2014, Penobscot County Sherriff’s Office deputies went to Gardiner’s residence in Glenburn in response to the discharge of a firearm.  Gardiner ran away from the deputies and disposed of a 9 mm pistol outside of the residence.  Deputies entered the residence and located a 12-gauge sawed-off shotgun hidden above Gardiner’s bedroom.  Forensic testing revealed that Gardiner’s DNA was on the trigger of the sawed-off shotgun and his fingerprints were on the sawed-off shotgun and on the pistol.  Gardiner was prohibited from possessing firearms because of Maine felony convictions for burglary, aggravated assault, theft by unlawful use of property, and drug trafficking.  In imposing sentence, Judge John Woodcock reviewed Gardiner’s extensive criminal history and noted that he had long been prohibited from possessing any firearms. 

The investigation was conducted by the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Maine State Police Crime Laboratory.  This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.   Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority.   In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.

Bangor, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Darin Doe, 41, of Waterville, Maine, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. to 10 years in prison and 10 years of supervised release for possession of child pornography.  He was also ordered to pay $5,000 in restitution.  Doe pled guilty on July 12, 2017. 

According to court records, on about November 4, 2015, Doe possessed over 7,000 computer files depicting images of child pornography.  Many of these images, which he had purposely sought out and downloaded from the Internet, depicted the sexual exploitation of prepubescent girls under the age of 12.  Doe was subject to a mandatory-minimum prison term of 10 years because of his 2002 federal conviction for receiving child pornography.

The investigation was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and the Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit.

Portland, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced today that the District of Maine collected $3,332,723.69 in criminal and civil actions in Fiscal Year (FY) 2017.  Of this amount, $2,755,431.76 was collected in criminal actions and $577,291.93 was collected in civil actions. 

Additionally, the District of Maine worked with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices and components of the Department of Justice to collect an additional $283,936.46 in cases pursued jointly with these offices. Of this amount, $6,000 was collected in criminal actions and $277,936.46 was collected in civil actions.         

Overall, the Justice Department collected just over $15 billion in civil and criminal actions in the FY 2017 ending September 30, 2017. 

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

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

Additionally, the U.S. Attorney’s office in Maine, working with partner agencies and divisions, collected $915,194 in asset forfeiture actions in FY 2017.  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 Robert E. DeAngelis, 38, of Newington, New Hampshire, pled guilty to filing a false claim for a federal income tax refund for the 2014 tax year.         

According to the charging document and evidence introduced at the plea hearing, DeAngelis filed a federal tax return claiming a refund of $31,615 to which he was not entitled, and the Internal Revenue Service issued a tax refund in that amount.

DeAngelis faces imprisonment of up to five years and a fine of up to $250,000, and payment of full restitution.  He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.

The investigation was conducted by the Criminal Investigation division of the Internal Revenue Service.

Portland, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Abdulkareem Daham, 22, of Westbrook, Maine, was convicted today following a three-day jury trial in U.S. District Court of conspiracy to defraud and to commit offenses against the United States.  The charges arise out of the defendant’s employment at Ahram Halal Market on Forest Avenue in Portland. 

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (“SNAP”) is a federal government program, formerly known as the Food Stamp Program, designed to raise the level of nutrition among low-income households.  The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (“WIC”) is a federal program that provides supplemental food, health care referrals and nutrition for certain low-income women, and to infants and children up to age five who were found to be nutritionally at risk.

According to court records, from 2011 through April 2016, the defendant conspired with his brother, Ali Ratib Daham, to give cash to customers at Ahram in exchange for SNAP or WIC benefits plus a fee, in violation of the rules of these programs and federal law.  During that period, Ahram received over $4 million in SNAP and WIC receipts, at least $1.4 million of which were obtained illegally.  

The defendant faces up to five 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. Ali Ratib Daham pleaded guilty on November 28, 2017 to SNAP and WIC trafficking conspiracy, money laundering and theft of federal MaineCare funds and awaits sentencing.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General; the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation; and the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, Fraud Investigation and Recovery Unit.

Bangor, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Donald Cain, 49, of Conroe, Texas, and formerly Columbia, South Carolina, pleaded guilty on Tuesday in U.S. District Court to interstate stalking. 

According to the indictment and evidence introduced at the plea hearing, Cain was married in August 2014 to a resident of Aroostook County. When they met, he worked in Calais, Maine, but soon relocated to San Antonio, Texas.  His wife remained in Maine. Between November 2014 and December 2015, the defendant used a telephone to call and send threatening text messages which caused substantial emotional distress to his wife.

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

The investigation was conducted by the Houlton Police Department, the San Antonio, Texas Police Department, the Maine Computer Crimes Task Force and the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Maine and South Carolina.

I have received numerous inquiries from members of the media, government officials, and others seeking guidance from this office about its approach to enforcing the federal marijuana laws.  Those laws make the production, distribution and possession of marijuana illegal based on its classification by Congress as a Schedule I Controlled Substance because Congress determined that it has a high potential for abuse and dependence and has no acceptable medical use.

As the chief federal law enforcement officer in this district, my job is to enforce federal law, not countermand it.  While I have some discretion in how my office does so in any particular case, that discretion is guided by the Principles of Federal Prosecution of the Department of Justice (DOJ).  Those principles include the interests of society, the public’s confidence in the criminal justice system, federal law enforcement priorities, the nature and seriousness of the offense, the deterrent effect of prosecution, the person's culpability in connection with the offense, their criminal history and willingness to cooperate in the investigation or prosecution of others, the interests of any victims, and the probable sentence or other consequences if the person is convicted, all in light of the DOJ’s and my office’s limited resources.  I do not have the authority to categorically declare that my office will not prosecute a class of crime or persons.

Rather, we must proceed on a case-by-case basis, individually assessing each matter according to DOJ’s Principles and deciding whether to use our resources to pursue it.  DOJ’s national priorities include the rule of law, national security and terrorism, immigration, violent crime and international gangs such as MS-13, the opiate crisis, supporting law enforcement, and promoting public confidence. In addition, our local priorities include domestic violence and guns, human trafficking, and elder fraud.  We will work with our federal, state, local and tribal partners to focus on those who pose the greatest threat to the people and communities that we serve.

With respect to the prosecution of drug offenses, this office has prioritized the prosecution of cases involving the trafficking of opiates, cocaine, crack and similar hard drugs.  We have also prosecuted large-scale marijuana distribution organizations and did so even while operating under the recently rescinded DOJ guidance.  Prosecution of drug possession cases has not been a priority.

Portland, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Alejandro Caal, 45, of Tampa, Florida; Zulairam Ramos, 30, of Orlando, Florida; Adrian Teruel, 26, of Orlando, Florida; and Olga Valido, 51, of Kissimmee, Florida, pleaded guilty on Wednesday in U.S. District Court to access device fraud and conspiracy to commit access device fraud.

Court records show that between October 2016 and March 2017, the defendants used stolen credit and debit card numbers to purchase merchandise and gift cards at Maine stores. Each of the defendants used stolen card numbers belonging to Maine residents to make fraudulent purchases in late 2016 and early 2017. Caal, Teruel and Valido were arrested on March 11, 2017, and initially charged in state court. All four defendants were charged federally in April 2017.

The defendants each face up to ten years in prison on the access device fraud charge and five years in prison on the conspiracy charge. They also face a $250,000 fine on each charge. The defendants have pleaded not guilty to aggravated identity theft charges, and a bench trial on those charges is scheduled for January 23, 2018. They will be sentenced after the completion of presentence investigation reports by the U.S. Probation Office.

The Falmouth Police Department was the lead investigative agency in this case. The case was also investigated by the Augusta, Scarborough, South Portland, and Winthrop police departments; the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Secret Service.

Portland, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Juan Carlos Febles, 52, of Miami Gardens, Florida, was sentenced on Wednesday in U.S. District Court by Chief Judge Nancy Torresen to 34 months in prison and three years of supervised release for conspiracy to commit access device fraud and aggravated identity theft. He pleaded guilty on August 24, 2017.

Court records show that between about November 2015 and June 2016, the defendant and others used stolen credit and debit card numbers to purchase merchandise. In June 2016, as part of the conspiracy, the defendant and others traveled to Maine. On June 15, 2016, after a co-conspirator, Yaisder Herrera Gargallo, purchased merchandise at a Portland Walgreens using a stolen card number, store personnel notified the police and provided a license plate number. On June 16, 2016, the defendant purchased over $700 worth of merchandise at an Augusta Home Depot using a stolen card number belonging to a victim from Vassalboro.

On June 18, 2016, a Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office deputy stopped the vehicle in which the defendant and two other men were traveling. The stop led to their arrest and the discovery of merchandise, numerous fraudulent credit cards and a laptop computer. The laptop computer was later found to contain credit card numbers and related data.

Yaisder Herrera Gargallo was sentenced to 40 months in prison and three years of supervised release on November 14, 2017. The defendant’s other two co-defendants—Jose Castillo Febles and Meylisi Rueda—have pleaded guilty and await sentencing.

The case was investigated by the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office, the Portland Police Department and the U.S. Secret Service.

Portland, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Apolonio Montes Garcia, 40, of Haverhill, Massachusetts, was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court by Chief Judge Nancy Torresen to time-served (about 2½ months) for social security fraud.  Montes Garcia had been in custody since October 11, 2017.  Montes Garcia pleaded guilty to the charge on November 14, 2017.

Court records reveal that on April 4, 2017, Montes Garcia attempted to gain entry to the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine.  At the time, Montes Garcia was working for a contractor doing repairs at the Shipyard.  In order to gain entry, he was asked to provide identification.  He presented Shipyard security personnel with a permanent resident card and a social security card, both bearing the same name that was not his.  The social security card also bore a social security number that was not assigned to Montes Garcia. 

This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Enforcement Removal Operations, the U.S. Social Security Administration – Office of Inspector General, and the U.S. Naval Criminal Investigative Service

Portland, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Matthew Miller, 52, of Windham, Maine, was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court by Judge George Z. Singal to three years in prison and ten years of supervised release for accessing with intent to view material containing images of child pornography. Judge Singal also ordered Miller to pay a $5,000 special assessment applicable to non-indigent individuals convicted of child exploitation offenses. Miller pleaded guilty to the offense on July 5, 2017.

According to court records, in September 2016, investigators from Homeland Security Investigations and the Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit were investigating the exchange of child pornography over the internet. As part of the investigation, agents downloaded child pornography files from a computer that was making the files available. The computer was later determined to be at Miller’s residence in Windham. Investigators executed a search warrant at the residence, and found that Miller had been searching for and downloading child pornography to his computer using a peer-to-peer file-sharing network.

The investigation was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and the Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit.

Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Jason McGoldrick, 36, of Windham, Maine was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Chief Judge Nancy Torresen to a year and a day in prison and three years of supervised release for perjury.  McGoldrick pleaded guilty on July 27, 2017.

Court records reveal that on November 10, 2016, McGoldrick was involved in an altercation in Portland’s Old Port District during which an individual fired three shots from a handgun at McGoldrick and a companion. During the ensuing investigation, agents sought to identify McGoldrick’s companion -- the other intended target.  On December 1, 2016, McGoldrick lied to federal agents about the identity of his companion, giving the name of a deceased friend, instead.  On December 13, 2016, McGoldrick repeated the lie when testifying before a federal grand jury investigating the shooting.  On February 2, 2017, after being confronted by agents, McGoldrick admitted the true identity of his companion and said he lied in order to protect his friend.

U.S. Attorney Frank said:  “Our judicial system depends on people testifying truthfully to a grand jury.  It is a fundamental duty of citizenship.  As this case demonstrates, the failure to do so can lead to very serious consequences.”

On November 21, 2017, Noor Mohammed, 26, of Roxbury Massachusetts, pleaded guilty to federal firearm charges arising out of the November 10, 2016 shooting and awaits sentencing.

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Portland Police Department.

Portland, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Willie Richard Minor, 58, of Auburn, Maine, was convicted today following a two-day jury trial in U.S. District Court of possession of a firearm after having been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence. 

Court records and trial evidence revealed that on June 14, 2010, Minor was convicted in Maine Superior Court of Assault.  The victim of the assault was his wife at the time.  As a result of that conviction, the defendant was prohibited from possessing firearms.  On November 27, 2016, in an interview with the Auburn Police Department, the defendant admitted to having a gun and told the police he kept the gun in his apartment.  The police subsequently searched his apartment pursuant to a warrant and found the gun Minor had described.

Minor 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 Auburn and Mechanic Falls Police Departments, the Maine State Police Crime Lab, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Bangor, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Eliud Lopez-Baez, 32, a citizen of Mexico, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to being an alien who was found in the United States after having been removed and deported from the United States. 

Court documents reveal that on November 28, 2017, at about 7:50 a.m., U.S. Border Patrol agents found the defendant in a swamp in Hodgdon, Maine, a short distance from the international boundary.  The defendant had no immigration documents and admitted that he was a citizen of Mexico.  Immigration records showed that he had been removed from the United States in February 2017.

The defendant faces up to two 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. Border Patrol. 

Bangor, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Steven Lemieux, 54, of Fairfield, Maine, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. to time served (over six months) for illegally possessing firearms and ammunition.  He was also fined $5,000. Lemieux was convicted on June 15, 2017 following a two-day jury trial. He has been in federal custody since May 14, 2017.

Court records and trial evidence revealed that in December 2016, Lemieux possessed seven firearms and 784 rounds of ammunition.  He was prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition due to a 2006 federal felony conviction for providing false information to a federal firearm licensee. 

The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; and the Fairfield Police Department.

Portland, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Mickey Gilley, 35, of West Bath, Maine, was sentenced today in U.S. District by Chief Judge Nancy Torresen to 14 years in prison and three years of supervised release for distributing heroin and fentanyl.  Gilley pleaded guilty on August 1, 2017.

Court records reveal that on September 20, 2016, the defendant distributed heroin and fentanyl to a former girlfriend.  At the time of the distribution, the defendant was prohibited from having contact with her due to bail conditions imposed in a felony domestic violence case.  After the defendant discovered she was non-responsive, he failed to call emergency personnel because, as he admitted, he feared being arrested for violating his bail conditions.  The former girlfriend died as a result of using the drugs furnished by the defendant. 

In imposing sentence, Chief Judge Torresen noted that the defendant chose his own liberty over the life of his former girlfriend.

U.S. Attorney Frank said: "This case combines two of the biggest challenges facing Maine – the illegal distribution of opiates and domestic violence.  Heroin and fentanyl are deadly poisons that are killing Mainers in record numbers. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine is working closely with the Office of the Maine Attorney General to make the investigation and prosecution of these cases a priority. The investigation and prosecution of cases involving domestic violence has long been, and will continue to be a priority, as well.”

The investigation was conducted by the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, the Sagadahoc and Lincoln County Sheriff’s Offices, and the Maine State Police.

Portland, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Sal Mansy, 41, of Detroit, Michigan, and TV TOYZ, LLC, a Michigan corporation, were sentenced today in U.S. District Court for operating an unlicensed money-service business.  Mansy was sentenced to a year and a day in prison and three years of supervised release.  TV TOYZ, LLC was sentenced to three years of probation.  The defendants were also ordered to forfeit about $118,000 worth of cash and bitcoin. Guilty pleas were entered on May 17, 2017. 

According to court documents, between August 2013 and June 2015, Mansy bought and sold about $2.4 million worth of the virtual currency “Bitcoin” online for profit.  Mansy funneled his Bitcoin transactions through the business bank account of TV TOYZ, a corporation he owned and operated.  Mansy engaged in these Bitcoin transactions without registering his money-service business with FinCEN (the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, a branch of the U.S. Treasury Department).  It is against federal law for a money-service business to exchange or transfer Bitcoin without registering.  Mansy was aware that he was required to register with FinCEN.  A year-long investigation into Mansy’s activities culminated in June 2015 with a search of his Detroit residence and the seizure of about $118,000 worth of cash and bitcoin.

The investigation was conducted by the Portland, Maine and Detroit, Michigan offices of U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations; and the Saco Police Department.

Portland, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Carey Ackies, 36, of Jamaica, Queens, New York, was convicted today following a four-day jury trial in U.S. District Court of conspiracy to distribute heroin and 28 grams or more of cocaine base, commonly known as crack, and aiding and abetting the possession with the intent to distribute heroin and 28 grams or more of crack.

Court records and trial evidence revealed that on January 18, 2016, federal agents intercepted a drug courier getting off a bus in Portland with heroin and crack.  The ensuing investigation revealed that the defendant was the source of the drugs.  Four days later, DEA located and arrested the defendant in New York. A search of his Jamaica apartment resulted in the seizure of heroin and crack, a firearm, a money counter and other evidence of drug trafficking. 

Ackies faces between ten years and life in prison and a $10,000,000 fine.  He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office. 

The investigation was conducted by the U.S Drug Enforcement Administration in conjunction with U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Maine State Police and the Lewiston Police Department, and 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 today announced that Milestone Recovery, Inc. (“Milestone”) has entered into a civil settlement agreement with the United States and the State of Maine in which it will pay $4,519.04 to resolve allegations that Milestone submitted false claims to MaineCare (Maine’s Medicaid program) from June 2015 through July  2016.  MaineCare is primarily funded by the United States, which pays about two-thirds of all claims submitted to MaineCare. 

According to a civil complaint filed today, Milestone used money paid to it by MaineCare to pay the salary and benefits of a Milestone employee who previously had been excluded from Federal health care and the MaineCare programs.  Federal health care programs may not pay, directly or indirectly, for items or services furnished, ordered, or prescribed by excluded individuals or entities. Prior to joining Milestone, the employee had been excluded after surrendering her nursing license for diverting Fentanyl and Oxycodone while employed as a nurse at a hospital.  The employee disclosed the circumstances that caused her to surrender her nursing license in her Milestone employment application, but Milestone failed to check publicly available exclusion databases to determine if she was excluded.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Office of Inspector General, and the Attorney General’s Office of the State of Maine.  The civil action is docketed United States and the State of Maine v. Milestone Recovery, Inc., 2:17-cv-00466-GZS (D. Me.).

Bangor, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that William Curtis Oliver, 53, of Dover-Foxcroft, Maine and formerly of Dougherty County, Georgia, was sentenced today in U.S. District by Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. to 151 months in prison and 20 years of supervised release for possessing child pornography and failing to register as a sex offender.  Oliver pleaded guilty to failing to register as a sex offender on December 13, 2016; he pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography on June 8, 2017.

Court records reveal that in January 2016, a detective with the Rosenberg, Texas police department who was affiliated with the Houston Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, was monitoring certain internet sites.  The detective was working in an undercover capacity and posing as a 14-year-old female child (“UC”).  On January 27, 2016, the defendant wrote to the UC about traveling from Maine to see the UC and have sex.  Over the next few weeks, the defendant sent several text messages to the UC.  On about February 2, 2016, the defendant sent several images of prepubescent girls engaged in sexually explicit conduct to the UC. 

The defendant has been in custody since his arrest on September 15, 2016, following a related investigation by federal and state authorities that revealed that the defendant had been convicted of child molestation in Georgia and had moved to Maine in December 2015 without complying with federal sex offender registry requirements. 

In imposing sentence, Judge Woodcock said: “The need to protect the public from this defendant is clear.” 

The investigation was conducted by the Rosenberg, Texas Police Department; the United States Marshal’s Service; Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations; the U.S. Marshal’s Service, and the Dover-Foxcroft Police Department. 

Bangor, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Seth J. Blewitt, 30, of Oakville, Connecticut pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to bank robbery and brandishing a firearm while committing a Hobbs Act robbery.  The charges arose from the robberies of a TD Bank branch and a Dollar Tree store.

Court records reveal that on May 28, 2017, the defendant robbed a TD Bank branch in Bangor. He entered the bank, approached a teller, and said, “I’m actually robbing you.  I want all of your money, no dye packs or GPS trackers.”  He was wearing a black knit hat, sunglasses, gloves, and a plaid shirt.  The teller complied and the defendant absconded with a bag of cash. 

The next day, the defendant robbed the Dollar Tree store in Bangor with a shotgun.  He was wearing a mask and sunglasses and he demanded that a cashier open the register.  When the cashier said that she could not open the register, he struck the register with the shotgun.  The cashier yelled for the manager and the manager opened the register and gave the defendant cash.  The defendant absconded with the cash.  The defendant’s wife, Cara J. Blewitt, served as the getaway driver for both robberies.  Officers from the Bangor Police Department arrested the defendant and his wife within minutes of the Dollar Tree robbery. 

The defendant faces between seven years and life in prison, a $250,000 fine and full restitution. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.  Cara M. Blewitt pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court on October 11, 2017 to aiding and abetting the robberies and awaits sentencing.

The investigation was conducted by the Bangor Police Department; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Keon Shine, 27, of Boston, Massachusetts, pled guilty yesterday in U.S. District Court to being a felon in possession of firearms.

According to court records, on April 8, 2017, Shine and Dane Mitchell travelled to Gray, Maine, where they rented firearms, purchased ammunition, and fired the weapons at a shooting range.  Boston Police Department officers identified Shine, Mitchell and the shooting range from videos that were uploaded to Snapchat.  Shine was prohibited from possessing firearms as a result of his three 2011 Massachusetts felony convictions for assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. 

Mitchell pled guilty to the same charge on August 30, 2017.

Both Shine and Mitchell face up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.  They will be sentenced after the completion of presentence investigation reports by the U.S. Probation Office.

The case was investigated jointly by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Boston Police Department’s Youth Violence Strike Force.

Portland, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that $525,569 in grant funding through the Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services through its Anti-Heroin Task Force Program (AHTF) was made to the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency. This grant is part of the new tools to address the opioid crisis announced today by Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

AHTF provides two years of funding directly to law enforcement agencies in states with high per capita levels of primary treatment admissions for heroin and other opioids. This funding will support the location or investigation of illicit activities related to the distribution of heroin or the unlawful distribution of prescription opioids.

Portland, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Ali Ratib Daham, 40, of Westbrook, Maine, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to SNAP and WIC trafficking conspiracy, money laundering and theft of federal MaineCare funds.  Daham was charged by indictment on April 24, 2017.

Court documents show that from 2011 to 2017, Daham owned the Ahram Halal Market in Portland.  The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (“SNAP”) is a federal program, formerly known as the Food Stamp Program, designed to raise the level of nutrition among low-income households.  The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (“WIC”) is a federal program that provides supplemental food, health care referrals and nutrition for certain low-income women, and to infants and children up to age five who were found to be nutritionally at risk.  Ahram became a SNAP retailer in 2011 and a WIC retailer in 2012. 

According to court records, from 2011 through April 2016, Daham conspired with others to give cash to customers at Ahram in exchange for SNAP or WIC benefits plus a fee, in violation of the rules of these programs and federal law.  During that period, Ahram received over $4 million in SNAP and WIC receipts, at least $1.4 million of which were obtained illegally.  Daham also laundered proceeds of the conspiracy and stole at least $39,000 in MaineCare benefits for himself and his family by underreporting his income and assets to the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (“Maine DHHS”). 

“The defendant stole from programs designed to provide nutritional items to some of our most vulnerable community members – low income households, mothers, infants and children,” said U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank. “The defendant put his own financial profit above their needs. People who defraud these programs should expect to be brought to justice.”

“Mainers can take comfort knowing that our dedicated Fraud Investigation and Recovery Unit (“FIRU”) team is hard at work every day, ensuring state welfare benefits are going to the Mainers who need them most,” said Maine DHHS Commissioner Ricker Hamilton.

Daham faces up to five years in prison for conspiracy and ten years for theft of government funds, and a fine of up to $250,000 on each count.  He faces up to 20 years in prison and a $500,000 fine for money laundering.  In a plea agreement, Daham agreed to pay $1,446,372 in restitution, including $80,000 at or prior to sentencing, and agreed to the forfeiture of $80,814 in cash that was seized from him in 2016.  He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General; the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation; and the Maine DHHS, FIRU.

Portland, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Christopher Shepard, 31, of Gorham, Maine, pled guilty today in U.S. District Court to possessing child pornography.

According to court records, in April of this year, investigators from the Gorham Police Department executed a search warrant at Shepard’s Gorham apartment.  Investigators seized his cellular telephone, which was later found to contain several images of a girl under the age of 12 engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

Shepard faces a sentence of up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. He also faces a supervised release term of between five years and life. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.

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

Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Daniel Shertzer, 30, of Fitchburg, Massachusetts, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge George Z. Singal to five years of probation for failure to pay child support. He was also ordered to pay $57,533.75 in restitution.  Shertzer pleaded guilty on July 17, 2017.

According to court documents, Shertzer is the father of three minor children, as to whom he was ordered to pay child support in 2010, 2012 and 2013, respectively.  Between March 2010 and January 2017 -- except for the period between May and June 2011 when he worked in Maine -- Shertzer has lived and worked in California, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire, but rarely made any voluntary payments toward his support obligations.

In pronouncing sentence, Judge Singal admonished Shertzer that he was totally irresponsible, that his victims were innocent and vulnerable children, and that the court would supervise him closely and send him to jail if he did not fulfill those support obligations. Judge Singal scheduled the matter for a status conference in six months to ensure that Shertzer did so.

The case was investigated by the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services