PORTLAND, MAINE —
Two sheriff’s deputies accepted new automobiles and an possession stake in an operation that illegally bought greater than $13 million in pot grown for Maine’s medical marijuana program, federal prosecutors stated.
Two different legislation enforcement officers and a prosecutor aided the operation by offering intelligence and tipping off members, prosecutors stated.
Federal paperwork unsealed Wednesday when one of many defendants pleaded responsible revealed an elaborate program during which marijuana that was grown in western Maine for registered caregivers was bought outdoors this system, with income being laundered by means of a company construction.
Twelve folks have been charged within the 14-count criticism, together with a Rangeley choose board member, an assistant district legal professional, two Franklin County sheriff’s deputies, an Oxford County sheriff’s deputy and a Wilton police officer.
The Franklin County deputies accepted possession pursuits and automobiles in alternate for confidential data, in accordance with the criticism. The prosecutor allegedly tipped off a corrupt police officer in regards to the investigation, and two different officers allegedly warned the Franklin County deputies they have been beneath surveillance, the criticism stated.
The president of the Maine Chiefs of Police Affiliation stated the alleged involvement of officers was “very upsetting.”
“The Maine Chiefs of Police Affiliation has all the time stood for equal software of the legal guidelines to everybody within the state of Maine and we’re assured within the subsequent section of the judicial system to adjudicate this case accordingly,” stated Augusta Police Chief Jared Mills.
Randal Cousineau, 69, of Farmington, Maine, pleaded responsible Wednesday to conspiracy to illegally domesticate and promote greater than a ton of marijuana and greater than 1,000 marijuana vegetation, in accordance with the paperwork.
Whereas Cousineau had a 50% stake within the enterprise, the chief of the operation was allegedly Lucas Sirois, 41, of Farmington, prosecutors stated.
Sirois, who made his preliminary courtroom look Thursday in Bangor, Maine, labored along with his tax preparer to file false earnings tax returns to cover tons of of 1000’s of {dollars} in earnings, prosecutors stated.
Timothy Parlatore, legal professional for Sirois, stated his shopper was engaged in a authorized marijuana enterprise and “took nice steps to make sure that he was appearing in accordance with Maine legislation.” The federal fees have been primarily based on “the phrases of a disgruntled former worker,” he stated.
Parlatore stated he’ll search to cease the prosecution primarily based on the battle between state and federal legislation. Maine has lengthy had a medical marijuana program, and the sale of leisure marijuana started final fall. However marijuana continues to be unlawful beneath federal legislation.
“What he is doing is authorized beneath state legislation. This isn’t one thing the feds ought to be involving themselves with,” he stated.
The legal professional for Sirois’ estranged spouse, Alisa Sirois, who’s charged with conspiracy and financial institution fraud, stated federal legislation has didn’t preserve tempo with altering occasions.
“This case cries out for a much less antiquated method to drug enforcement,” stated legal professional Ronald Bourget. “The ‘battle on medicine’ should still be ongoing, however the white flag on marijuana was raised years in the past.”
As a part of the scheme, a Rangeley choose board member was paid tens of 1000’s of {dollars} to advance a marijuana ordinance that Sirois himself had drafted to a city referendum, prosecutors stated.
Walt McKee, an legal professional who represents Franklin County Assistant District Lawyer Kayla Alves, stated she is harmless and that it was “disappointing to see her dragged into all of this.” And an legal professional for the accountant denied the allegations, as effectively.
Attorneys for the opposite defendants did not instantly reply to an emailed request for remark.
