District of Maine

PORTLAND, Maine: A Portland man was sentenced on November 5, 2025, in U.S. District Court in Portland for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Chief U.S. District Judge Lance E. Walker sentenced Keon Gaston, 36, to 48 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release.

According to court records, in March 2025, officers from the Portland Police Department were dispatched following a report of a suspect breaking a vehicle window with a rock. Officers located the suspect and identified him as Gaston. When asked about the broken window, he replied, “What about it?” and told officers the vehicle had tried to “strike him.” After determining there was an active warrant for a failure to appear, officers searched Gaston and located a Smith & Wesson M&P 2.0 9mm pistol, which had been reported stolen in August 2024. Gaston was precluded from possessing firearms due to previous convictions, including for drug trafficking and robbery.

ATF investigated the case with assistance from the Portland Police Department.

Project Safe Neighborhoods: This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psn.

Editor’s Note: This matter occurred on the date indicated, but the press release was not published at that time due to the federal government shutdown. The release was posted and made available following the return to normal operations.

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PORTLAND, Maine: A Peru man was sentenced on October 14, 2025, in the U.S. District Court in Portland for his involvement in trafficking dangerous drugs, including fentanyl and methamphetamine.

Chief U.S. District Court Judge Lance E. Walker sentenced Adam Gill, 31, to 60 months imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release.

According to court records, on March 29, 2024, law enforcement conducted a controlled purchase of approximately 20 grams of fentanyl and 36 grams of methamphetamine from Gill. Gill himself obtained the drugs from a juvenile male, a Trinitario associate, whom the gang had dispatched to Gill’s house to sell drugs. The Trinitarios are a Dominican-based street gang with vast operations in Northern Massachusetts who routinely travel to points in Maine to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, and crack cocaine. As with Gill, the Trinitarios frequently find drug-addicted individuals in Maine with stable housing; they then utilize the drug-addicted individual’s house to distribute drugs, employing the addict to middle drug transactions with locals.

Gill’s prosecution is part of a larger operation conducted by FBI’s Southern Maine Gang Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations, the Maine State Police, the Lewiston Police, the Oxford County Sheriff’s Office, and the Rumford Police under the auspices of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

Editor’s Note: This matter occurred on the date indicated, but the press release was not published at that time due to the federal government shutdown. The release was posted and made available following the return to normal operations.

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BANGOR, Maine: A New Jersey man was sentenced on September 30, 2025, in U.S. District Court in Bangor for failing to report his arrival and present himself for inspection at the international port of entry in Calais. 

U.S. Magistrate Judge John C. Nivison sentenced Jason Brenner, 53, to 115 days of imprisonment, followed by a year of supervised release. Brenner pleaded guilty on August 12, 2025.

According to court records, on July 1, 2025, Brenner drove a vehicle traveling outbound from the United States and entered Canada. After a brief encounter with Canadian immigration officials, Brenner turned his vehicle around and sped back towards the U.S. Instead of stopping his vehicle and presenting himself for inspection at the Calais port of entry, Brenner entered the U.S. by traveling in the outbound lane in the wrong direction, bypassing the incoming traffic inspection lanes. Following a pursuit where Brenner reached speeds of over 100 mph, he crashed the vehicle and was found in the woods with a loaded firearm, two loaded magazines, and wearing body armor. Another loaded firearm was found inside the vehicle.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection investigated the case with assistance from U.S. Border Patrol and the Baileyville and Indian Township police departments.

Editor’s Note: This matter occurred on the date indicated, but the press release was not published at that time due to the federal government shutdown. The release was posted and made available following the return to normal operations.

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PORTLAND, Maine: A Barrington, New Hampshire man pleaded guilty on November 6, 2025, in U.S. District Court in Portland to illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition while being a felon. 

According to court records, in March 2025, Kittery Police Department officers responded to the Kittery Trading Post regarding a potential shoplifting incident. Police were directed to a group of males that had just left the store, one of whom was identified as Jonathan Grant, 43. Officers located a .22 caliber pistol and a box containing 100 rounds of .22 caliber ammunition during a search of Grant’s jacket. Grant was prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition by virtue of prior felony convictions. 

Grant faces a term of imprisonment of up to 15 years, a fine of up to $250,000, and a supervised release term of up to three years. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case with the assistance of the Kittery Police Department.

Operation Take Back America: This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

Editor’s Note: This matter occurred on the date indicated, but the press release was not published at that time due to the federal government shutdown. The release was posted and made available following the return to normal operations.

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BANGOR, Maine: A Mexican national was sentenced on November 5, 2025, in U.S. District Court in Bangor for illegally entering the U.S. after a prior removal.

U.S. District Judge Nancy Torresen sentenced Javier Amateco-Navarrette, 38, to a sentence of time served (approximately 50 days). Amateco-Navarrette pleaded guilty on September 30, 2025.

According to court records, on September 16, 2025, Amateco-Navarrette was a passenger in a vehicle stopped by the U.S. Border Patrol in Oakland, Maine. During the traffic stop, Amateco-Navarrette admitted he was a citizen of Mexico and in the U.S. illegally. He was previously removed from the country on two separate occasions in 2018.

The U.S. Border Patrol investigated the case.

Operation Take Back America: This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

Editor’s Note: This matter occurred on the date indicated, but the press release was not published at that time due to the federal government shutdown. The release was posted and made available following the return to normal operations.

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PORTLAND, Maine: A Lowell, Massachusetts, man pleaded guilty on November 12, 2025, in U.S. District Court in Portland to one count of conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and three counts of distributing methamphetamine. 

According to court records, Rocky Buth, 32, was part of a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine between November 2024 and January 2025. In late November 2024, an FBI confidential source met with Buth and a co-conspirator in southern Maine and received approximately 220 grams of methamphetamine pills. On two subsequent dates in December 2024 and January 2025, Buth provided the FBI source with approximately 361 grams of methamphetamine pills and 419 grams of methamphetamine pills, respectively.

Buth faces a mandatory minimum prison term of 10 years and up to life imprisonment, up to a $10 million fine, and up to a lifetime of supervised release following any term of imprisonment. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The FBI investigated the case, with assistance from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Portland Police Department, and the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency.

Editor’s Note: This matter occurred on the date indicated, but the press release was not published at that time due to the federal government shutdown. The release was posted and made available following the return to normal operations.

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BANGOR, Maine: An Illinois man was sentenced on October 30, 2025, in U.S. District Court in Bangor for making threatening interstate communications. 

U.S. District Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. sentenced Massimo Frangella, 25, to 6 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release. Frangella pleaded guilty on June 2, 2025.

According to court records, Frangella sent seven identical emails to Maine public officials from his email account. The subject line of each read: “You’re going to die.” In the body of the emails, Frangella further threatened: “I’m going to kill you and all of your child raping friends.” He targeted the victims because of their status as public officials.

The FBI investigated the case with assistance from Maine Capitol Police.

“Massimo Frangella used words as his weapon, sending threatening messages to Maine public officials whose views he didn’t agree with,” said Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Division. "Now, he’ll spend the next six months behind bars in federal prison. Please don’t let keyboard courage short-circuit your future. There are productive ways to express your anger and desire for change, but threats of violence will never be one of them.”

Editor’s Note: This matter occurred on the date indicated, but the press release was not published at that time due to the federal government shutdown. The release was posted and made available following the return to normal operations.

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PORTLAND, Maine: A Guatemalan national pleaded guilty on October 9, 2025, in U.S. District Court in Portland to illegally re-entering the United States after a prior removal. 

According to court records, Derli Francisco De Souza, 59, was a passenger in a vehicle pulled over by Brunswick police officers in August 2025 for speeding. De Souza identified himself to officers as a national of Guatemala. Immigration records showed that he had previously been removed from the U.S. in 2011 and did not have a visa or other documentation that would allow him to re-enter the country.

De Souza faces a maximum term of imprisonment of two years, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to a year of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Border Patrol investigated the case.

Operation Take Back America: This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

Editor’s Note: This matter occurred on the date indicated, but the press release was not published at that time due to the federal government shutdown. The release was posted and made available following the return to normal operations.

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PORTLAND, Maine: A Greene man was sentenced on October 8, 2025, in U.S. District Court in Portland for possessing controlled substances with the intent to distribute and for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a federal drug trafficking crime. 

U.S. District Judge Nancy Torresen sentenced John Labbe, 44, to 120 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release. Labbe pleaded guilty on July 1, 2025.

According to court records, in January 2025, Lewiston police officers approached and detained Labbe after they observed him operating a vehicle unlawfully. Officers recovered from Labbe a handgun with a laser sight. Inside a backpack he was wearing, officers found quantities of fentanyl and cocaine base. A later search of Labbe’s cell phone revealed communications in which he arranged for the distribution of controlled substances.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated this case, with the assistance of the Lewiston Police Department, the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, and the Maine Attorney General’s Office.

Operation Take Back America: This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

Editor’s Note: This matter occurred on the date indicated, but the press release was not published at that time due to the federal government shutdown. The release was posted and made available following the return to normal operations.

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BANGOR, Maine: A Howland man was found guilty on October 16, 2025, of making false statements on a passport application, following a three-day jury trial in U.S. District Court in Bangor. 

According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Eric Ericson, 73, applied for a U.S. passport at a U.S. Post Office in Bangor on March 24, 2023. When asked about any other names he had used, Ericson failed to disclose his multiple aliases on his passport application. Ericson also falsely reported that he had never applied for or been issued a U.S. passport before, when in fact he had previously applied for and obtained a passport under a different name. He falsely certified that the information in his application was true and correct.

Ericson faces up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine his sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The Diplomatic Security Service Portsmouth Resident Office investigated the case with assistance from the Maine State Police.

Editor’s Note: This matter occurred on the date indicated, but the press release was not published at that time due to the federal government shutdown. The release was posted and made available following the return to normal operations.

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BANGOR, Maine: A Bradley man pleaded guilty on November 6, 2025, in U.S. District Court in Bangor to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. 

According to court records, between July and October 2024, Darren Deorsey, 50, conspired with others to fraudulently obtain money by entering banks, impersonating legitimate bank account holders, and using fictitious identification cards to gain access to their bank accounts and withdraw funds. Through fraud, Deorsey was able to obtain funds from the accounts and take out an unauthorized $5,000 home equity line of credit in the name of an account holder.

Deorsey faces up to 30 years in prison, a maximum fine of $1 million, and up to five years of supervised release. For aggravated identity theft, he faces a mandatory prison term of two years, consecutive to any other sentence imposed, a $250,000 fine, and up to one year of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The FBI investigated the case with assistance from the Bangor Police Department, Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, and Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles – Enforcement Services Division.

Editor’s Note: This matter occurred on the date indicated, but the press release was not published at that time due to the federal government shutdown. The release was posted and made available following the return to normal operations.

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PORTLAND, Maine: A Bath man was sentenced on October 2, 2025, in U.S. District Court in Portland for being a felon in possession of firearms.

U.S. District Judge Nancy Torresen sentenced Noah Sibole-Little, 29, to 21 months in federal prison to be followed by 2 years of supervised release. Sibole-Little pleaded guilty on June 16, 2025.

According to court records, in October 2024, the Bath Police Department received information that Sibole-Little had potentially threatened an individual at a residence with a firearm. Bath officers and Sagadahoc County Sheriff’s Office personnel responded to the area and established a perimeter. Officers observed Sibole-Little exit a rear door to the residence with a backpack and toss the backpack over a fence into a bush. Police seized the backpack and found three firearms inside, two 9mm pistols and a .380 caliber pistol. Sibole-Little had 2016 convictions for robbery and aggravated assault in Cumberland County and was therefore prohibited from possessing firearms.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case with the assistance of the Bath Police Department and Sagadahoc County Sheriff’s Office.

Project Safe Neighborhoods: This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psn.

Editor’s Note: This matter occurred on the date indicated, but the press release was not published at that time due to the federal government shutdown. The release was posted and made available following the return to normal operations.

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PORTLAND, Maine: United States Attorney Andrew B. Benson joined the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration in announcing that DEA will be conducting its National Prescription Drug Take Back Day this Saturday, October 25. Between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., DEA and its partners will collect tablets, capsules, patches, and other solid forms of prescription drugs.

For 16 years, DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day has helped Americans safely dispose of unneeded medications—those that are old, unwanted, or expired—to prevent drug misuse and abuse. Take Back Day offers free and anonymous disposal of unneeded medications at nearly 4,500 drop-off locations nationwide.

In partnership with local law enforcement, Take Back Day has removed more than 19.8 million pounds (10,000 tons) of medication from circulation since its inception. Collection sites will not accept syringes, sharps, and illicit drugs. Liquid products, such as cough syrup, should remain sealed in their original container. The cap must be tightly sealed to prevent leakage.

“I urge all Mainers to take advantage of Drug Take Back Day,” said U.S. Attorney Benson. “Leftover prescription drugs can be abused, stolen or resold. Taking a few minutes to properly dispose of medications you no longer need can save a life.”

For more information and to find a collection site near you, visit www.DEATakeBack.com.

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BANGOR, Maine: A Veazie man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Bangor to two counts of enticing a minor and one count of possessing child pornography.

According to court records, in 2022 and again in 2024, Austin Cocchiaro, 24, used his cell phone to induce a minor to participate in the production of child pornography. He also offered to pay for images using an online payment application. On November 14, 2024, the FBI executed a search warrant at Cocchiaro’s home in Veazie, resulting in the discovery of additional child pornography on two cell phones he owned.

Cocchiaro faces from 10 years to life in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to a lifetime of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The FBI investigated the case.

To report an incident involving the possession, distribution, receipt or production of child pornography: Child sexual abuse material – referred to in legal terms as "child pornography" – captures the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. These images document victims’ exploitation and abuse, and they suffer revictimization every time the images are viewed. In 2023, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children received 36 million reports of the possession, manufacture, or distribution of child sexual abuse materials. To file a report with NCMEC, go to https://report.cybertip.org or call 1-800-843-5678. If you are in Maine and you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted or abused, you can get help by calling the free, private 24-hour statewide sexual assault helpline at 1-800-871-7741.

Project Safe Childhood: This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psc.

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BANGOR, Maine: A Spanish man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Bangor for illegally reentering the U.S. after a prior removal. 

U.S. District Judge Nancy Torresen sentenced Jose Angel Hidalgo-Torres, 20, to time served (72 days). He pleaded guilty on August 12, 2025.

According to court records, Hidalgo-Torres was found in Calais, Maine shortly after illegally entering the United States on July 18, 2025. He was previously removed from the country in May 2024.

Hidalgo-Torres was turned over to immigration authorities at the conclusion of the proceedings.

The U.S. Border Patrol investigated the case.

Operation Take Back America: This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

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BANGOR, Maine: A New Jersey man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Bangor for failing to report his arrival and present himself for inspection at the international port of entry in Calais. 

U.S. Magistrate Judge John C. Nivison sentenced Jason Brenner, 53, to 115 days of imprisonment, followed by a year of supervised release. Brenner pleaded guilty on August 12, 2025.

According to court records, on July 1, 2025, Brenner drove a vehicle traveling outbound from the United States and entered Canada. After a brief encounter with Canadian immigration officials, Brenner turned his vehicle around and sped back towards the U.S. Instead of stopping his vehicle and presenting himself for inspection at the Calais port of entry, Brenner entered the U.S. by traveling in the outbound lane in the wrong direction, bypassing the incoming traffic inspection lanes. Following a pursuit where Brenner reached speeds of over 100 mph, he crashed the vehicle and was found in the woods with a loaded firearm, two loaded magazines, and wearing body armor. Another loaded firearm was found inside the vehicle.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection investigated the case with assistance from U.S. Border Patrol and the Baileyville and Indian Township police departments.

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BANGOR, Maine: A Mexican national pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Bangor to illegally entering the U.S. after a prior removal.

According to court records, on September 16, 2025, Javier Amateco-Navarrette, 38, was a passenger in a vehicle stopped by the U.S. Border Patrol in Oakland, Maine. During the traffic stop, Amateco-Navarrette admitted he was a citizen of Mexico and in the U.S. illegally. He was previously removed from the country on two separate occasions in 2018.

Amateco-Navarrette faces up to two years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The U.S. Border Patrol investigated the case.

Operation Take Back America: This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

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Sergey Bachkovsky, of Greene, Maine, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Portland, Maine, to trafficking whale and bird parts in violation of the Lacey Act.

According to court records and statements during today’s hearing, between June 2023 and March 2024, Bachkovsky imported wildlife items from Eastern Europe and sold them online to buyers across the United States. The items included sperm whale and marine mammal teeth (both raw items and scrimshaw art pieces), blue whale and Antarctic minke whale ear bones, and a broad-winged hawk carcass. The charging document also includes a notice of forfeiture  for wildlife items that Bachkovsky intended to sell, including marine mammal and bear teeth, whale vertebrae, and feathers and wings from eagles, hawks, owls, and vultures.

It is a violation of the Lacey Act, the oldest U.S. wildlife trafficking law, to trade in wildlife taken, possessed, transported or sold contrary to another U.S. or state law. The sperm whale and blue whale have been protected by the Endangered Species Act since 1973. The Marine Mammal Protection Act and Migratory Bird Treaty Act prohibit the sale and transportation of whale and migratory bird items without a permit, such as for public display, scientific study, or enhancement of species survival.

Bachkovsky will be sentenced at a later date. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gain or loss from the illegal activity.

Acting Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD), Acting U.S. Attorney Craig Wolff for the District of Maine, and Assistant Director Doug Ault of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Office of Law Enforcement  made the announcement.

Bachkovsky was investigated and charged as part of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Operation Raw Deal, which targeted the unlawful import and resale of whale teeth and bone (such as in a South Carolina case recently sentenced).

Senior Trial Attorney Ryan Connors of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Scott for the District of Maine are prosecuting the case.

PORTLAND, Maine: A Glenburn woman was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for embezzling from an organization receiving federal funds and conspiring to alter money orders.

U.S. District Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. sentenced Kelly Ballinger, 59, to 60 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Ballinger will also be ordered to pay restitution totaling approximately $1 million. Ballinger pleaded guilty on May 1, 2024.

According to court records, Ballinger was a former property manager for a Portland apartment complex with residences funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). From about October 2015 to June 2021, Ballinger stole rent payments made by HUD Housing Choice Voucher Program tenants. Ballinger would direct the tenants to pay their rent with a blank postal money order and then would place her name or that of her subordinate employee Kathleen Conway, 71, on the payee line, adding information such as “groceries” on the memo line to suggest the payments were reimbursements. In some instances, Ballinger would deflate the tenants’ income to as low as $0 so that HUD would pay a larger share of the rent to disguise shortfalls.

Kathleen Conway pleaded guilty to embezzlement and was sentenced on June 6, 2024, to two years of probation and ordered to pay $35,710 in restitution.

In pronouncing the sentence, Judge Woodcock observed that Ballinger was “able to concoct a scheme that avoided detection for years.” The court described her embezzlement as “calculated, deliberate, and devious.”

The HUD Office of Inspector General (OIG) and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated the case.

“Ballinger and her co-conspirator preyed on the vulnerability of elderly and disabled individuals and altered income and expense documents to falsely increase HUD rental subsidies, which she then funneled to her personal bank account,” said Special Agent in Charge Shawn Rice with HUD OIG. “HUD OIG will continue to work with its law enforcement partners to diligently pursue and hold accountable bad actors who willfully misuse federal assets.”

“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service routinely seeks prosecution of individuals like Kelly Ballinger, who swindled funds that were designated to support fellow community members with housing,” said Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division. “Postal Inspectors, alongside HUD OIG, uncovered the fraud schemes employed by Ballinger and her co-conspirator, to conceal her activities and line her pockets. We will continue to support and collaborate with our federal law enforcement partners to stop those who are engaged in these types of schemes.”

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PORTLAND, Maine: A Union man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for distributing fentanyl and cocaine.

U.S. District Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. sentenced Kenneth Adams, 40, to 10 years in federal prison followed by eight years of supervised release for trafficking kilogram quantities of fentanyl and cocaine from New York to Maine. Adams pleaded guilty on December 20, 2024.

According to court records, from at least December 2023 through June 2024, Adams trafficked fentanyl and cocaine from sources of supply in the Bronx to mid-level drug dealers in Knox County for further distribution. As determined by the court, Adams possessed at least one firearm in connection with this drug trafficking activity.

Homeland Security Investigations and the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency investigated the case.

Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces: This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

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PORTLAND, Maine: Two New Bedford, Massachusetts men pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Portland to a three-count superseding indictment that included charges for conspiring to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute cocaine, perpetrating a drive-by shooting, and using a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. 

Joshua Estrada (aka “Mac”), 20, and Yancarlos Abrante (aka “Glizzy”), 22, pleaded guilty to the superseding indictment returned by a federal grand jury on March 19, 2025.

According to court records, on February 9, 2024, Estrada and Abrante fired at least five rounds from a 9mm handgun into another vehicle in a drug trade dispute. Shortly after they fired on their drug rivals and fled the scene, they drove their vehicle against traffic and through a red light, crashing into another passenger vehicle and a school bus. Video footage captured by another driver who witnessed the accident showed them exiting their vehicle and fleeing the scene on foot. Court records reflect that Estrada, Abrante and others had been trafficking cocaine in and around Saco and Biddeford since at least January 2024.

A third defendant, Jason Johnson-Rivera (aka “Ouda”), 20, is expected to go to trial later this year.

“Today’s guilty pleas by Joshua Estrada and Yancarlos Abrante are the result of a tireless and cooperative investigation by local, state and federal law enforcement,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Craig M. Wolff. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office and its partners are united in bringing to justice those who distribute drugs and commit acts of violence in this state.”

“These two violent, dangerous men committed a brazen, drive-by shooting in Saco in broad daylight following a dispute over the cocaine they were trafficking,” said Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Division. “Their unabashed criminal behavior put innocent lives at risk, all so they could maintain their hold on their drug territory and keep the cash rolling in. This case underscores how the FBI’s Southern Maine Gang Task Force and our law enforcement partners are working together to target and dismantle the violent drug gangs wreaking so much havoc in our communities, just to make money and a name for themselves on the street.”

Estrada and Abrante face a mandatory minimum prison sentence of 20 years with a maximum of life, a fine of up to $10 million, and not less than five years of supervised release. Both defendants will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The Saco Police Department, FBI’s Southern Maine Gang Task Force, U.S. Border Patrol, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case with assistance from the New Bedford (Mass.) Police Department.

Project Safe Neighborhoods: This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psn.

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PORTLAND, Maine: An Ecuadorian national pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Portland to illegally entering the U.S. after a prior removal.

According to court records, on August 4, 2025, Tamara Iveth Shiguano-Vargas, 29, was a passenger in a car stopped by the Maine State Police for speeding on I-95. While the trooper who conducted the stop contacted the U.S. Border Patrol for assistance identifying the driver, Shiguano-Vargas got out of the car and fled. After police located her, she told a U.S. Border Patrol agent that she was Ecuadorian. She had previously been removed from the U.S. in September 2024 and had no lawful immigration status in the country.

Shiguano-Vargas faces up to two years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000. She will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The Maine State Police and U.S. Border Patrol investigated the case.

Operation Take Back America: This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN)

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PORTLAND, Maine: A Poland woman was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for Social Security fraud and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) fraud.

U.S. District Judge Nancy Torresen sentenced Susie Files, 65, to 36 months of probation and ordered her to pay $165,878 in restitution. Files pleaded guilty on May 19, 2025.

According to court records, Files lied to the Social Security Administration (SSA) and the Maine Department of Health & Human Services (Maine DHHS) for more than a decade. In multiple benefit eligibility reviews, Files falsely represented to these agencies that she and her husband lived separately, and omitted his presence from her household despite knowing that she was required to disclose that information, and that it could affect her eligibility for benefits. Investigators uncovered the deception in March 2023. When interviewed, Files acknowledged that she lived with her husband during this period.

Files’ husband, Peter Files, previously pleaded guilty to MaineCare and SNAP fraud on May 8, 2025. He was sentenced to repay $45,615.78 in restitution to those programs on August 25, 2025.

The SSA’s Office of the Inspector General and Maine DHHS’s Fraud Investigation and Recovery Unit investigated the case.

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PORTLAND, Maine: A Portland man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

U.S. District Judge Nancy Torresen sentenced Mohamud Abdullahi, 32, to 75 months in prison to be followed by 3 years of supervised release. Abdullahi pleaded guilty on August 19, 2024.

According to court records, on November 23, 2023, the Portland Police Department received reports of shots fired near the intersection of Commercial and Cross streets. A caller described the suspect pulling a firearm from his waistband and firing two shots into the air before getting into a vehicle, and also described the vehicle. The descriptions were later confirmed by security camera footage from a nearby building. Responding officers recovered two spent 9mm shell casings from the scene, and the vehicle was intercepted by South Portland police after it crossed the bridge into South Portland. After a brief attempt to flee, Abdullahi was arrested. The firearm used in the shooting was recovered the next day from the front lawn of a residence near where the vehicle was stopped.

Abdullahi was precluded from possessing firearms because of his prior convictions for assault and aggravated criminal trespass in 2017, and unlawful trafficking of scheduled drugs in 2011.

The FBI, Portland Police Department, and South Portland Police Department investigated the case.

Project Safe Neighborhoods: This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psn.

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PORTLAND, Maine: A Westbrook man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for distributing cocaine and cocaine base.

U.S. District Judge Nancy Torresen sentenced Francis Mezan, 35, to 27 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Mezan pleaded guilty on April 8, 2025.

According to court records, a cooperating source working with law enforcement purchased cocaine and cocaine base from Mezan on three separate occasions, spanning from July 18, 2024, through September 5, 2024. These purchases were recorded and monitored by investigators.

The FBI investigated this case, with assistance from the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency and the Portland Police Department.

Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces: This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

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PORTLAND, Maine: A Topsham man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for being a felon in possession of firearms and possessing stolen firearms.

U.S. District Judge Nancy Torresen sentenced Christopher Tucker, 34, to 75 months in prison to be followed by 3 years of supervised release. Tucker pleaded guilty on March 19, 2025.

According to court records, in May 2024, officers from the Brunswick Police Department responded to a citizen’s report of suspicious activity at a nearby residence. Responding officers found that the door of the residence’s garage was open and cabinets inside appeared to have been pried open, with ammunition scattered on the floor. Officers located a vehicle matching the description provided by the reporting witness. Tucker, the owner and only occupant of the vehicle, fled on foot. After a brief manhunt, he was located and arrested. Officers subsequently recovered 20 firearms from his vehicle, all of which had been stolen from inside the Brunswick residence. Tucker was prohibited from possessing firearms due to multiple prior felony convictions.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) investigated the case with assistance from the Brunswick Police Department and Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office.

Project Safe Neighborhoods: This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psn.

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PORTLAND, Maine: A Lewiston man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for possessing and distributing child sexual abuse material.

Chief U.S. District Judge Lance E. Walker sentenced Harold Clayton III, 35, to 20 years in prison to be followed by 10 years of supervised release. Clayton pleaded guilty on March 26, 2025.

According to court records, in June 2022, the Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit (MSPCCU) received two CyberTips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) and traced the identified phone number to Clayton. In September 2022, MSPCCU and the Lewiston Police Department executed a search warrant at Clayton’s residence. A cell phone and laptop seized from Clayton and the residence contained multiple images and videos of children, some as young as toddlers, being sexually abused by adult men. The cell phone also contained Telegram Messenger communications in which Clayton distributed such images and videos.

Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and MSPCCU investigated the case with assistance from the Lewiston Police Department.

“HSI commends the reporting of this heinous abuse of children to the CyberTip line, enabling law enforcement to take action and make sure Harold Clayton faced the full weight of justice,” said HSI New England Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Krol. “It is critically important the public join us in this fight against online child sexual exploitation by reporting suspicious activity. Together, we can protect and safeguard our children.”

To report an incident involving the possession, distribution, receipt or production of child sexual abuse material: Child sexual abuse material – referred to in legal terms as "child pornography" – captures the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. These images document victims’ exploitation and abuse, and they suffer revictimization every time the images are viewed. In 2023, NCMEC received 36 million reports of the possession, manufacture, or distribution of child sexual abuse materials. To file a report with NCMEC, go to https://report.cybertip.org or call 1-800-843-5678. If you are in Maine and you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted or abused, you can get help by calling the free, private 24-hour statewide sexual assault helpline at 1-800-871-7741.

Project Safe Childhood: This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psc.

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PORTLAND, Maine: A man previously residing in Hebron, Maine, pleaded guilty yesterday in U.S. District Court in Portland to distributing and possessing child sexual abuse material. 

According to court records, Steven Parker, 47, sent a video file depicting child sexual abuse material to an undercover agent over a messaging application. In August 2024, the Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit (MSPCCU) and the FBI executed a search warrant at his residence, resulting in the seizure of multiple digital media devices containing files of child sexual abuse material. When interviewed by investigators, Parker admitted to accessing, viewing, and distributing child sexual abuse material over the internet.

Parker faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years in prison and a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, a maximum fine of $250,000, and a maximum supervised release term of life. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The FBI and MSPCCU investigated the case.

To report an incident involving the possession, distribution, receipt or production of child sexual abuse material: Child sexual abuse material – referred to in legal terms as "child pornography" – captures the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. These images document victims’ exploitation and abuse, and they suffer revictimization every time the images are viewed. In 2023, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children received 36 million reports of the possession, manufacture, or distribution of child sexual abuse materials. To file a report with NCMEC, go to https://report.cybertip.org or call 1-800-843-5678. If you are in Maine and you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted or abused, you can get help by calling the free, private 24-hour statewide sexual assault helpline at 1-800-871-7741.

Project Safe Childhood: This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psc.

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BANGOR, Maine: An Old Town man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Bangor for his role in a conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, cocaine base, methamphetamine and cocaine.

According to court records, between January and April 2021, Alan Dziob, 44, conspired with others to distribute the drugs in the Penobscot County area and elsewhere. As part of the conspiracy, Dziob regularly supplied drugs to a local dealer to sell for him.

Dziob faces a minimum of five years and up to 40 years in prison and a $5 million fine. He also faces a minimum of four years and up to a lifetime of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and Somerset County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.

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PORTLAND, Maine: Christopher Hooper, of Cape Elizabeth, has agreed to pay $1,240,500 to settle allegations that he individually and through his company, Hooper Consulting, LLC, received COVID-19 Economic Injury and Disaster Loan (“EIDL”) funding but misused the loan proceeds.

EIDL loans were low-interest, fixed-rate, long-term loans intended to help businesses overcome the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic by providing working capital to meet operating expenses, including payroll, rent or mortgage payments, utilities, and other ordinary business expenses. Under the EIDL program, borrowers could use loan proceeds solely as working capital to alleviate economic injury caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

As alleged by the government, Hooper used the COVID relief funds to make stock trades and personal investments. He also made a series of large transfers to his personal checking and savings account. Later, Hooper submitted a hardship application to reduce his monthly repayment obligations. The government further alleged that Hooper comingled EIDL and business funds, then made a series of large expenditures including tens of thousands of dollars to a high-end interior designer, over $10,000 to a Land Rover dealer, and tens of thousands of dollars on home improvements. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.

This case is a result of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s ongoing efforts to identify and investigate fraudulently obtained or misused pandemic relief funds. Recent amendments to federal law have extended the statute of limitations for civil and criminal fraud enforcement actions concerning PPP and EIDL loans from six to 10 years.

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BANGOR, Maine: A Blue Hill man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Bangor to making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm.

According to court records, on June 8, 2023, Caleb Rhine, 22, was indicted in Hancock County Superior Court on one count of aggravated trafficking in scheduled drugs. On May 5, 2024, Rhine, while still under indictment, attempted to purchase a firearm from a federally licensed firearms dealer in Ellsworth. To make the purchase, Rhine filled out a Form 4473 required by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). In response to the question, “Are you under indictment or information in any court for a felony, or any other crime for which the judge could imprison you for more than one year . . .?,” Rhine falsely checked the box “No.” Rhine was able to successfully buy the gun a few days later based, in part, on his representations on the ATF form.

Rhine faces up to 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

ATF and the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.

Operation Take Back America: This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

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PORTLAND, Maine: A Bowdoinham man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Portland to possessing a firearm after previously being convicted of a felony offense. 

According to court records, in September 2024, Brunswick police responded to a Walmart regarding a potential shoplifting incident. Upon arrival, officers were directed to Rodney Skipper, 46, who had gone outside to his vehicle. Officers noticed Skipper had an empty pistol holster on his hip, and were told that Skipper had been seen with a firearm in the holster before their arrival. A subsequent search of Skipper’s vehicle resulted in the recovery of a 9mm pistol, a .40 caliber pistol, and a 10mm pistol. Skipper was prohibited from possessing firearms by virtue of a prior felony for assaultive conduct.

Skipper faces up to 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and supervised release for up to three years following any imprisonment. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case with the assistance of the Brunswick Police Department.

Project Safe Neighborhoods: This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psn.

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BANGOR, Maine: A Southwest Harbor man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Bangor to two counts of receiving child pornography and one of count possessing child pornography.

According to court records, in October 2023, Gary Peters, 36, received child pornography he solicited online from two minors using a social media and messaging application. On March 27, 2024, the FBI executed a search warrant at Peters’ home in Southwest Harbor, resulting in the discovery of additional child pornography on electronic devices including his cell phone.

Peters faces from 5 to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to a lifetime of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The FBI investigated the case.

To report an incident involving the possession, distribution, receipt or production of child pornography: Child sexual abuse material – referred to in legal terms as "child pornography" – captures the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. These images document victims’ exploitation and abuse, and they suffer revictimization every time the images are viewed. In 2023, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children received 36 million reports of the possession, manufacture, or distribution of child sexual abuse materials. To file a report with NCMEC, go to https://report.cybertip.org or call 1-800-843-5678. If you are in Maine and you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted or abused, you can get help by calling the free, private 24-hour statewide sexual assault helpline at 1-800-871-7741.

Project Safe Childhood: This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psc.

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PORTLAND, Maine: A Missouri man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for advertising child pornography on the dark web.

U.S. District Judge Nancy Torresen sentenced Larry Stendebach, 60, to 17.5 years (210 months) in prison to be followed by 10 years of supervised release. Stendebach pleaded guilty on April 27, 2025.

According to court records, in May 2024, agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Portland, Maine were investigating a site on the dark web dedicated to the sexual abuse of children. During the investigation, HSI agents observed a profile, later identified as belonging to Stendebach, that had a history of postings dating back to December 2022. Agents observed the profile had made over 1,000 posts on the site. Agents reviewed several links posted by Stendebach that contained videos of child sexual abuse material including young children. In August 2024, HSI agents executed a search warrant at Stendebach’s residence in Hannibal, Missouri. During a subsequent interview, Stendebach admitted he had used the profile on the dark web.

HSI investigated the case.

To report an incident involving the possession, distribution, receipt or production of child sexual abuse material: Child sexual abuse material – referred to in legal terms as “child pornography” – captures the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. These images document victims’ exploitation and abuse, and they suffer revictimization every time the images are viewed. In 2023, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) received 36 million reports of the possession, manufacture, or distribution of child sexual abuse materials. To file a report with NCMEC, go to https://report.cybertip.org or call 1-800-843-5678. If you are in Maine and you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted or abused, you can get help by calling the free, private 24-hour statewide sexual assault helpline at 1-800-871-7741.

Project Safe Childhood: This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psc.

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PORTLAND, Maine: A China, Maine, man pleaded guilty yesterday in U.S. District Court in Portland to one count of Access with Intent to View Child Pornography.

According to court records, in June 2024, the Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit began investigating a Cybertip from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) regarding Kik, a free instant messaging mobile app. According to the Cybertip, a Kik user, later identified as Jeffery Furlong, 53, uploaded multiple videos of child sexual abuse material. Based on further investigation, a search warrant was executed at Furlong’s residence in October 2024.  During the execution of the search warrant, Furlong admitted that he had obtained multiple images and videos of child sexual abuse material on his cellular telephone via Kik. A search warrant on Furlong’s Kik account revealed child sexual abuse material and the defendant’s expressed sexual interest in children 6-to-12 years old.     

Furlong faces up to 20 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, and up to a lifetime of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Homeland Security Investigations and the Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit investigated the case.

To report an incident involving the possession, distribution, receipt or production of child sexual abuse material: Child sexual abuse material – referred to in legal terms as "child pornography" – captures the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. These images document victims’ exploitation and abuse, and they suffer revictimization every time the images are viewed. In 2023, NCMEC received 36 million reports of the possession, manufacture, or distribution of child sexual abuse materials. To file a report with NCMEC, go to https://report.cybertip.org or call 1-800-843-5678. If you are in Maine and you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted or abused, you can get help by calling the free, private 24-hour statewide sexual assault helpline at 1-800-871-7741.

Project Safe Childhood: This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psc.

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PORTLAND, Maine: A Texas woman pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Portland today to bank fraud, false use of a passport, and aggravated identity theft.

According to court records, in June 2024, Andrea Cochran, 51, entered a credit union in Westbrook and used a falsified passport card to withdraw money from a victim’s accounts. The falsified passport card presented by Cochran bore her picture but had the personal information of the victim account holder. She also presented the victim’s Social Security number and forged the victim’s signature for each withdrawal.

Cochran faces up to 30 years in federal prison and a maximum fine of $1 million to be followed by up to five years of supervised release. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service investigated the case, with assistance from the Westbrook Police Department and the Windham Police Department.

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PORTLAND, Maine: A Gorham man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for robbing a bank, brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, and possessing a firearm as a prohibited person.

U.S. District Judge Nancy Torresen sentenced Timothy Riley, 42, to 22 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release, and she ordered him to pay restitution to the victim bank. Riley pleaded guilty on March 17, 2025.

According to court records, in June 2024, Riley demanded money from a bank teller at a Waterboro bank while brandishing a Glock Model 19 handgun. Riley then fled the bank with money, leaving the scene on a dirt bike. Responding York County Sheriff’s Office deputies spotted the vehicle and followed Riley in pursuit until he headed off-road where law enforcement vehicles could no longer travel. During canine tracking, investigators recovered a handgun and dark-colored baseball cap consistent with items observed during the robbery. Once apprehended later that evening, Riley admitted to the robbery.

Riley’s criminal history includes past state convictions for burglary and robbery, and a federal conviction for interfering with commerce by robbery. His criminal history precludes him from possessing any firearms. 

The FBI investigated the case, with the assistance of the York County Sheriff’s Office and the Buxton Police Department.

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PORTLAND, Maine: A Topsham man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for sexually exploiting four children.

Chief U.S. District Judge Lance E. Walker sentenced Henry Eichman, 65, to 20 years in prison to be followed by a lifetime of supervised release. Eichman pleaded guilty on December 10, 2024.

According to court records, in August 2022, a worker from a Brunswick landscaping company found two laptops and several hard drives hidden under a kayak on the company’s property. The employee opened the devices, discovered that they contained child sexual abuse material, and recognized Eichman, who was a former employee, in some of the files. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) forensically examined the devices and recovered over 500 images and videos containing child sexual abuse material, including videos showing Eichman setting up a recording device and/or participating in the sexual abuse of minor victims from 2014 to 2016. The videos depicted Eichman engaging in sexually explicit conduct with children under the age of 12. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is limiting identifying information to protect the minor victims’ privacy.

Eichman previously entered an Alford plea in state court in 2018 to the sexual abuse of children and is currently serving a 10-year sentence. He will begin serving the sentence imposed today after the completion of his state sentence.

HSI investigated the case with assistance from the Topsham Police Department and the Brunswick Police Department.

To report an incident involving the possession, distribution, receipt or production of child pornography: Child sexual abuse material – referred to in legal terms as "child pornography" – captures the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. These images document victims’ exploitation and abuse, and they suffer revictimization every time the images are viewed. In 2023, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children received 36 million reports of the possession, manufacture, or distribution of child sexual abuse materials. To file a report with NCMEC, go to https://report.cybertip.org or call 1-800-843-5678. If you are in Maine and you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted or abused, you can get help by calling the free, private 24-hour statewide sexual assault helpline at 1-800-871-7741.

Project Safe Childhood: This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psc.

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PORTLAND, Maine: A Poland man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for Social Security fraud.

U.S. District Judge Nancy Torresen sentenced Peter Files, 60, to 30 months of probation and ordered him to pay $45,615.78 in restitution. Files pleaded guilty on May 8, 2025.

According to court records, Files lied to the Maine Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS) for more than a decade. In multiple benefit eligibility reviews, Files falsely represented to Maine DHHS that he and his wife lived separately, and he omitted her presence from his household. Files knew that he was required to disclose that information, and that it could affect his eligibility for benefits. When interviewed by federal investigators, Files acknowledged that he had lived with his wife during the relevant period.

Files’ wife, Susie Files, previously pleaded guilty to Social Security and SNAP fraud on May 19, 2025. Her sentencing is scheduled for September 18, 2025.

The Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General and Maine DHHS’s Fraud Investigation and Recovery Unit investigated the case.

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BANGOR, Maine: A Forest City Township man was arrested on August 21 in La Plata, Missouri, after being charged with making false statements to the Government.

According to court records, Gregory P. Heimann Jr., 51, was indicted in October 2024 for making false statements to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Specifically, Heimann is alleged to have falsely represented to the VA in May 2023 that he had been wheelchair bound since 2004 and was unable to walk or stand. Before the indictment, Heimann had been charged by federal criminal complaint for the same offense. An arrest warrant issued in April 2024. As alleged in the affidavit in support of the complaint, Heimann was documented and recorded walking and standing without the assistance of any mobility devices on numerous occasions in Maine.

Following an investigation into Heimann’s whereabouts by the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) Maine Violent Offender Task Force, Heimann was arrested in La Plata, Missouri by USMS investigators from the Eastern District of Missouri. The VA Office of Inspector General and the Maine Warden Service also assisted in the investigation.

Heimann appeared in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri on August 22 and was ordered to remain in USMS custody pending a future court appearance in the District of Maine.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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PORTLAND, Maine: A Mexican national was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for illegally reentering the U.S. after a prior removal.

U.S. District Judge Nancy Torresen sentenced Miguel Gomez-Sanchez, 45, to 10 months in prison. Gomez-Sanchez pleaded guilty on June 26, 2025.

According to court records, on May 10, 2025, Gomez-Sanchez was arrested by the Maine State Police for operating under the influence on I-95. Agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) determined Gomez-Sanchez had previously been removed from the U.S. several times. He was most recently removed in 2022 after being convicted for illegally reentering the U.S. after a prior removal.

ICE ERO investigated the case.

Operation Take Back America: This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).

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PORTLAND, Maine: A Lewiston man pleaded guilty on Thursday in U.S. District Court in Portland to stalking his victim using facilities of interstate or foreign commerce.

According to court records, for a period lasting until approximately August 2021, Brent Ouellette, 33, engaged in a course of conduct against his victim that included posting sexually explicit videos or pictures of his victim online without consent, contacting his victim posing as other people, and obtaining his victim’s social media login information.

Ouellette faces a maximum prison term of five years and a fine up to $250,000. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The FBI investigated the case with assistance from the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office.

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PORTLAND, Maine: An Augusta man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for possessing a firearm after previously being convicted of at least one felony offense. 

U.S. District Judge Nancy Torresen sentenced Raymond Lilly, 41, to 6 years in prison to be followed by 3 years of supervised release. Lilly pleaded guilty on May 2, 2025.

According to court records, Lilly was encountered by Augusta police officers at an encampment in Mill Park in September 2023. During the interaction, officers observed a bottle of pills within Lilly’s tent, which Lilly admitted he did not have a prescription for. After officers arrested Lilly, they discovered a Smith & Wesson model M&P 15, .22 caliber rifle in his tent. Lilly had previous felony firearms convictions in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maine, which barred him from possessing firearms.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case in conjunction with the Augusta Police Department.

Project Safe Neighborhoods: This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psn.

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BANGOR, Maine: A Spanish man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Bangor to reentry after removal. 

According to court records, Jose Angel Hidalgo-Torres, 20, was found in Calais shortly after illegally entering the United States on July 18, 2025. He was previously removed from the country in May 2024.

Hidalgo-Torres faces up to two years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The U.S. Border Patrol investigated the case.

Operation Take Back America: This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

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BANGOR, Maine: A New Jersey man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Bangor to failing to report his arrival and present himself for inspection at the international port of entry in Calais. 

According to court records, on July 1, 2025, Jason Brenner, 52, drove a vehicle traveling outbound from the United States and entered Canada. After a brief encounter with Canadian immigration officials, Brenner turned his vehicle around and sped back towards the U.S. Instead of stopping his vehicle and presenting himself for inspection at the Calais port of entry, Brenner entered the U.S. by traveling in the outbound lane in the wrong direction, bypassing the incoming traffic inspection lanes. Following a pursuit where Brenner reached speeds of over 100 mph, he crashed the vehicle and was found in the woods with a loaded firearm, two loaded magazines, and wearing body armor. Another loaded firearm was found inside the vehicle.

Brenner faces up to one year in prison, a fine of up to $100,000, and up to one year of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal magistrate judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection investigated the case with assistance from U.S. Border Patrol and the Baileyville and Indian Township police departments.

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PORTLAND, Maine: A Honduran national was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for reentry after removal.

U.S. District Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. sentenced Maynor David Casalegno Escobar, 29, to time served (124 days). He pleaded guilty on May 30, 2025.

According to court records, on April 10, 2025, U.S. Border Patrol Agents encountered Casalegno Escobar in Portland during a traffic stop. Post-arrest, Casalegno Escobar acknowledged that he was born in Honduras, was not a U.S. citizen, and that he did not have any authorization to be in the country. Casalegno Escobar also admitted that he had been previously deported from the U.S., which was confirmed through records checks.

Operation Take Back America: This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

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BANGOR, Maine: A Guatemalan man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Bangor for reentry after removal.

U.S. District Judge Nancy Torresen sentenced Geremias Josue Sanchez-Velasquez, 31, to time served (110 days). He pleaded guilty on June 11, 2025.

According to court records, on April 23, 2025, a U.S. Border Patrol Agent encountered Sanchez-Velasquez in Palmyra, Maine. Sachez-Velasquez acknowledged that he was not a U.S. citizen and that he did not have any authorization to be in the country. Records checks revealed that Sanchez-Velasquez has a previous conviction for illegal entry and had been removed from the United States in 2019.

Sanchez-Velasquez was turned over to immigration authorities at the conclusion of the proceedings.

Operation Take Back America: This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

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BANGOR, Maine: A Kenduskeag man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Bangor to two counts of producing child pornography and one count of possessing child pornography.

According to court records, in February 2024, investigators with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) executed a search warrant at the home of Justin Leonard, 24, based on a CyberTip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Leonard was home during the warrant’s execution and provided the password and Face ID to a hidden folder on his cellular telephone. In this hidden folder, investigators located multiple sexually explicit images and videos of two very young children. Leonard admitted that he had taken these images and videos. The parents of the children confirmed Leonard’s statements and identified their children in the images and videos. A subsequent forensic review of Leonard’s phone uncovered Facebook chats where he expressed an interest in children and a desire to acquire children. In addition, in the Safari history of Leonard’s phone, artifacts were found indicating an interest in Rohypnol or Roofies, a powerful sedative. His queries included, “youngest age you can safely give a roofie” and “Is there any drug that can make a person unconscious for 2 hours?”

For each child pornography production count, Leonard faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and up to a lifetime of supervised release. For the child pornography possession count, Leonard faces up to 20 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and up to a lifetime of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

HSI and the Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit investigated the case.

To report an incident involving the possession, distribution, receipt or production of child sexual abuse material: Child sexual abuse material – referred to in legal terms as "child pornography" – captures the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. These images document victims’ exploitation and abuse, and they suffer revictimization every time the images are viewed. In 2023, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children received 36 million reports of the possession, manufacture, or distribution of child sexual abuse materials. To file a report with NCMEC, go to https://report.cybertip.org or call 1-800-843-5678. If you are in Maine and you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted or abused, you can get help by calling the free, private 24-hour statewide sexual assault helpline at 1-800-871-7741.

Project Safe Childhood: This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psc.

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BANGOR, Maine: A Jay man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Bangor to distributing narcotics and illegally possessing a firearm. 

According to court records, Thomas Ray Cook, 44, sold $600 worth of cocaine to a Maine Drug Enforcement Agency (MDEA) confidential information source (CI) in February 2025 from Cook’s home in Jay. In March 2025, Cook sold the CI additional cocaine and seven firearms for $1,600, from a different residence in Farmington. Cook is prohibited from possessing firearms because of multiple prior Maine state felony convictions, including Aggravated Operating after Habitual Offender Revocation and Eluding an Officer. 

For the narcotics charge, Cook faces up to 20 years in prison, a $1 million fine, and up to a lifetime of supervised release. For the firearms charge, Cook faces up to 15 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 investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

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

Operation Take Back America: This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

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BANGOR, Maine: An Ellsworth man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Bangor for conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and conspiring to commit money laundering.

U.S. District Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. sentenced Jeremy Kane, 38, to 87 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Kane pleaded guilty on February 12, 2025.

According to court records, from May 2022 through May 2023, Kane and others conspired to traffic methamphetamine in Maine. A source in California would mail shipments of methamphetamine to Maine for distribution in Downeast Maine. Proceeds from the sale of the methamphetamine were sent to the source using various money services, including Walmart2Walmart, Cash App, and Venmo. A co-conspirator enlisted the aid of Kane and others to use their identifications and accounts to receive the money. This was done to conceal and disguise the source’s involvement in the transactions and the money laundering.

The FBI investigated the case with assistance from the U.S. Postal Service, Ellsworth Police Department, Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, Holden Police Department, and Hancock County Sheriff’s Office.

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