On the morning of July 21, 2020, greater than a dozen police autos converged on Slender Gauge Distributors, a medical marijuana cultivation enterprise housed in a former shoe manufacturing facility on Excessive Road in Farmington.
By midday, investigators have been tossing giant marijuana crops pulled from the constructing into the again of a delivery container and hoisting containers of proof right into a U-Haul truck. State and federal brokers additionally have been busy looking for and seizing marijuana, money and firearms from different marijuana amenities and houses in western Maine.
For greater than a 12 months, federal authorities remained tight-lipped about why that they had raided the buildings and what precisely they have been investigating.
However not too long ago unsealed courtroom paperwork define what they describe as a far-reaching and elaborate conspiracy aided by legislation enforcement to develop and distribute marijuana in violation of Maine’s medical marijuana legal guidelines.
The paperwork paint an in depth image of a fancy felony operation allegedly led by a person named Lucas Sirois of Farmington that, based on federal investigators, benefited from the assistance and safety of 4 legislation enforcement officers, a Rangeley selectman and an assistant district lawyer, amongst others. A dozen folks, together with Sirois’ father and estranged spouse, are accused of getting a hand in marijuana distribution and cash laundering.
Two of the officers have been promised partial possession of Sirois’ enterprise and given firm automobiles for serving to with its operation, working license plates and choosing up marijuana from one other location, based on courtroom paperwork. A witness informed investigators that the lads would generally present up on the cultivation website in uniform and conceal when different officers pulled into the shoe manufacturing facility’s parking zone.
The operation’s main financier, 69-year-old Randal Cousineau of Farmington, was charged individually and pleaded responsible in federal courtroom on Oct. 27 to conspiring to own and distribute greater than 1,000 kilograms of marijuana and 1,000 marijuana crops. Cousineau made tons of of hundreds of {dollars} in revenue by the unlawful sale of marijuana in Maine and elsewhere, based on courtroom paperwork. As a part of a plea deal, he agreed to serve a most of simply over 5 years in jail and forfeit almost $650,000 in unlawful drug proceeds. His sentencing listening to has not been scheduled.
The alleged scheme was outlined in a felony criticism filed in U.S. District Court docket in Bangor on the identical day Cousineau pleaded guilty. It expenses the 12 defendants with a variety of offenses, together with conspiracy to distribute managed substances, financial institution fraud and conspiracy to commit cash laundering. All however one have been indicted final week by a federal grand jury.
Sirois, who has been a distinguished determine within the medical marijuana group and had utilized for 3 of eight dispensary licenses issued when Maine first started permitting dispensaries in 2010, structured his operations to look as if they complied with the state’s medical marijuana guidelines, the criticism alleges. However investigators say he often bought bulk marijuana on the illicit market in a scheme that netted him and his co-conspirators greater than $13 million in six years.
In 2018-19, the criticism alleges, Sirois moved $1 million value of marijuana for out-of-state distribution utilizing the providers of co-defendant Brandon Dagnese, 27, of Scarborough, a convicted felon who was ineligible to carry a caregiver card in Maine.
Maine State Law enforcement officials seize marijuana crops right into a delivery container behind the Farmington website final 12 months. Money and firearms have been additionally seized from different amenities and houses in western Maine. Russ Dillingham/Solar Journal
Timothy Parlatore, the New York-based lawyer for Lucas Sirois, stated his consumer has operated a authorized and licensed medical marijuana enterprise for years and didn’t commit the crimes of which he’s accused. The federal government’s case, he stated, depends largely on the phrase of an individual Sirois fired for committing against the law.
“Lots of that is her attempting to grind an axe in opposition to Luke as a result of she was upset she was fired,” Parlatore stated.
Parlatore stated Sirois will plead not responsible at his upcoming arraignment. He stated he plans to file a preliminary injunction to cease Sirois’ prosecution as a result of he believes prosecutors violated the Rohrabacher-Farr modification, which prohibits the Justice Division from spending funds to prosecute conduct that’s in compliance with state medical hashish legal guidelines.
“Luke is a hardworking citizen who noticed a chance when Maine legalized this explicit trade. He has created jobs, he has helped the economic system,” Parlatore stated. “He’s doing good work for the group, which is what we would like residents to do. He’s nonetheless open for enterprise, and we count on when this case is over he’ll proceed to work his enterprise. Something aside from dismissal will solely harm the residents of Maine and the folks that he employs.”
Federal authorities characterize his work otherwise. They are saying Sirois laundered cash from drug gross sales “by a fancy company construction,” lied to monetary establishments concerning the supply of his cash, filed false tax returns and employed sheriff’s deputies to assist achieve entry to confidential legislation enforcement information.
Two of these deputies, Bradley Scovil, 33, of Rangeley and Derrick Doucette, 29, of Jay, who’ve since left their jobs, started working for Sirois whereas they have been nonetheless employed by the Franklin County Sheriff’s Workplace. They have been rewarded with shares of the enterprise and new SUVs, federal prosecutors stated.
Later, Sirois allegedly bought the 2 deputies to make use of their community of lively legislation enforcement officers to acquire details about the continued federal investigation into his felony exercise, the criticism stated. Franklin County Assistant District Legal professional Kayla Alves, 36, of Farmington, allegedly tipped off Scovil concerning the federal investigation. Wilton police officer Kevin Lemay, 33, of Farmington, and James McLamb, 29, of Auburn, then an Oxford County deputy, used authorities databases to warn Scovil and Doucette that they have been below investigation, the criticism stated.
Sirois’ estranged spouse, Alisa Sirois, 43, of Kingfield; his father, 68-year-old Robert Sirois of Farmington, and Ryan Nezol, 38, of Farmington, are accused of partaking in unlawful drug trafficking with Sirois. Sirois and his tax preparer, Kenneth Allen, 48, of Farmington, filed false earnings tax returns to cover tons of of hundreds of {dollars} in earnings and keep away from taxes, based on the criticism.
David Burgess, 53, who on the time was a Rangeley selectman, is accused of accepting tens of hundreds in money and investments in his web firm from Sirois in trade for serving to with the marijuana enterprise and advocating for an ordinance Sirois had crafted that might have loosened native medical marijuana guidelines to Sirois’ profit.
A federal grand jury on Nov. 9 indicted 11 of the 12 defendants charged within the scheme. Alves, who’s charged by criticism with tampering with proceedings and paperwork, was not indicted. Her case was continued after each side requested an extra 60 days to proceed decision discussions that have been underway earlier than an indictment was sought.
Additionally indicted have been three companies – Lakemont LLC, Sandy River LLC and Spruce Valley LLC – on single counts of sustaining a drug-involved place. Lakemont LLC and Sandy River LLC have been managed by Sirois and Cousineau, whereas Spruce Valley LLC belonged to Sirois and an unnamed co-conspirator, based on courtroom paperwork.
The 12 defendants have made preliminary appearances in federal courtroom. All however Sirois have been launched on private recognizance bonds. Sirois is out on a $500,000 secured bond.
Regulation enforcement personnel load containers of proof into the again of a van on the Slender Gauge Distributors constructing in Farmington final 12 months. At the very least 12 defendants face expenses within the investigation. Russ Dillingham/Solar Journal
INSIDE THE SHOE SHOP
Sirois had been concerned within the medical marijuana trade in Maine for a minimum of a decade earlier than federal brokers confirmed up at his primary cultivation website final 12 months. His enterprise caught the eye of the DEA and IRS by August 2018, although courtroom paperwork don’t point out what prompted the investigation.
Within the affidavit filed in federal courtroom, FBI Particular Agent James Hendry outlines how investigators pieced collectively particulars of the operation Sirois allegedly ran for greater than 4 years whereas showing to adjust to Maine’s laws.
Sirois was licensed by the Workplace of Marijuana Coverage to function a single marijuana cultivation website in Farmington, however in actuality was rising marijuana at a number of areas, together with a repurposed toy manufacturing facility in Avon – in quantities that far exceeded what’s allowed below Maine legislation, based on Hendry. On the identical time, Hendry wrote, Sirois and his co-conspirators funneled money from the gross sales by an online of shell firms and laundered cash by actual property, luxurious autos and company ventures.
On the flagship cultivation location in Farmington, the previous shoe manufacturing facility referred to as the Shoe Store, Sirois allegedly ran a prohibited collective. His operation was rising marijuana to promote, however he paid workers as in the event that they have been particular person caregivers, rising what they bought on their very own to him, the affidavit stated.
Contained in the Shoe Store, workers labored in eight develop rooms, producing greater than 600 kilos of marijuana over the 11-month interval {that a} former worker interviewed by investigators labored there, the affidavit stated. Sirois had exterior cameras and a safety system put in to detect the arrival of legislation enforcement and provides unlicensed workers – together with his father, Robert Sirois, a convicted drug felon paid $1,200 weekly to be the store’s custodian – time to flee the power, Hendry wrote.
Sirois had employed Burgess, the previous Rangeley selectman, to “repair issues,” and he confirmed up every week with a bag of money to pay Shoe Store workers, the previous worker informed investigators. Sirois additionally was paying Burgess to push for passage of the referendum in Rangeley, at one level telling him to “load up a bus” with 50 folks to go vote, the affidavit stated. That referendum was in the end rejected by voters.
At one level, a financial institution worker informed Burgess his accounts can be closed if he stored depositing money that smelled like marijuana, the affidavit stated.
The affidavit doesn’t say how Sirois allegedly recruited legislation enforcement to work for him. However by the center of 2019, Scovil and Doucette, the Franklin County sheriff’s deputies, have been frequent guests to the Shoe Store. At instances, they’d present up in uniform on the invitation of Sirois, carrying their service weapons, the affidavit stated. From September to November, that they had keys to the constructing and a big workplace inside. Scovil allegedly would run the license plates of automobiles parked outdoors to assist Sirois higher perceive who was working for him. Doucette is accused of choosing up 12 kilos of marijuana from a Bridgton dispensary and delivering it to the Shoe Store.
When different legislation enforcement officers pulled into the parking zone, Scovil and Doucette would “hit the bottom” to keep away from being seen by their friends, Hendry wrote.
The previous Shoe Store worker informed an FBI agent that Scovil was within the store sooner or later when 4 folks, every carrying a visual firearm, arrived in a truck with Pennsylvania plates. They loaded 40 to 50 kilos of marijuana into duffle baggage and put them within the truck. When a Farmington police cruiser parked outdoors, Scovil created a courier card for the folks within the truck to “legitimize” the transportation of marijuana in the event that they bought pulled over, the affidavit stated. In Maine, a visit ticket kind is required anytime approved folks transport marijuana or marijuana merchandise.
Scovil and Doucette resigned from the sheriff’s workplace that November. The month earlier than, Sirois purchased every man a Ford Explorer, based on the affidavit. And round that point, they turned companions in Slender Gauge Distributors, every receiving 25 p.c curiosity, based on the affidavit.
However their departure from the sheriff’s workplace didn’t cease them from leveraging their connections in legislation enforcement to assist the operation, Hendry wrote.
INVESTIGATION HEATS UP
By spring 2020, it appeared that Sirois, Scovil and Doucette suspected they have been being watched by legislation enforcement, however they weren’t certain which company or why. That they had observed automobiles following them, and a digital camera arrange close to Scovil’s driveway recorded a truck he suspected was pushed by a legislation enforcement agent, Hendry wrote.
Because the investigation continued and brokers started monitoring Sirois’ cellphone, Scovil and Doucette have been allegedly reaching out to pals in legislation enforcement to attempt to discover out in the event that they have been being investigated and who was following them.
Investigators say Scovil reached out to Lemay, a Wilton police officer, in June and requested him to lookup the license plate of the truck his safety digital camera had picked up in a legislation enforcement database. When it got here again as “not on file,” indicating it belonged to legislation enforcement, Lemay referred to as an agent on the Maine Drug Enforcement Company to see if the truck belonged to the company, based on the affidavit.
Scovil and Doucette gave Lemay presents of CBD lotion and supplied to sponsor Lemay at a combined martial arts battle, Hendry wrote within the affidavit. Lemay at the moment is on administrative depart from his job in Wilton.
Investigators say Doucette reached out to McLamb, who was then a deputy with the Oxford County Sheriff’s Workplace, and had him run license plate numbers that Doucette supplied. Messages reviewed by Hendry confirmed Doucette supplied to assist set McLamb up with a marijuana rising operation, the affidavit stated.
That spring and summer season, Scovil allegedly talked with Alves, who was his neighbor and an assistant district lawyer, about his new job within the marijuana enterprise. Scovil requested Alves if he was being investigated, however she initially informed him she didn’t know, Hendry wrote. Alves later tipped off Scovil to the existence of the federal investigation, based on federal prosecutors.
Investigators say McLamb, Lemay and Alves all deleted textual content messages to distance themselves from the operation.
McLamb not too long ago was fired from his job as Dixfield city supervisor for his alleged involvement within the case. His lawyer, Michael Turndorf, stated McLamb “shouldn’t be judged at this hour primarily based on a single-sided, unchallenged allegation.”
“At this second, there is just one facet of the story and that’s the federal government facet,” he stated. “There may be all the time a separate facet.”
Attorneys representing Scovil, Doucette and Lemay didn’t reply to interview requests.
Walter McKee, the lawyer for Alves, stated his consumer didn’t commit against the law.
“It’s disappointing to see her dragged into all of this. She obtained all of nothing for the non-criminal issues she did right here. She is a revered prosecutor, a U.S. Military veteran who deployed to Iraq, and put herself by school and legislation faculty with three kids. She is actually a tremendous particular person. Let me inform you this shall be no small battle,” McKee wrote in an e mail to the Solar Journal.
After Alves allegedly informed Scovil concerning the investigation on July 8, he referred to as Sirois to inform him they have been being adopted by federal brokers and to speak about how you can change what they have been doing to keep away from arrest and prosecution by federal authorities, based on a transcript of the decision included within the affidavit.
“However … so I simply – we gotta keep on the down-low and solely do legit offers. And we gotta – I believe we gotta spend the time this week and subsequent week and actually get our (expletive) collectively, our licenses found out. As a result of the very last thing we would like them to do, particularly if it’s the feds, is to kick this (expletive) door out entrance and take down each plant,” Scovil informed Sirois, based on the affidavit.
13 days later, federal authorities raided the Shoe Store and seized $29,500 in money, 469 kilograms of processed marijuana and 1,805 marijuana crops.
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