The trial for a Farmington man accused of running an illegal $13 million operation that sold medical marijuana on the black market and led to felony charges against multiple public officials is scheduled to begin Wednesday.
Accused ringleader Lucas Sirois, his father Robert Sirois, and businesses Lakemont LLC, Sandy River Properties LLC and Spruce Valley LLC will face a jury during a six-day trial in the U.S. District Court of Maine in Bangor.
The trial of Lucas and Robert Sirois is the final legal chapter of a far-reaching conspiracy to sell pot illegally in Maine that ultimately led to charges against 13 people in 2021. A local selectman, an assistant district attorney and two Franklin County Sheriff’s Office deputies eventually pleaded guilty to felonies as part of the scheme.
The remaining 11 people, including Lucas Sirois’ estranged wife, Alisa Sirois, have pleaded guilty to felony charges.
The FBI raided several properties in Franklin County in July 2020 that were believed to be trafficking marijuana. The conspiracy became public in October 2021 when the first person pleaded guilty.
The far-reaching scheme named Lucas Sirois as the leader of the conspiracy. He was licensed to grow medical marijuana in Maine and is charged with conspiracy to manufacture, distribute and possess with intent to distribute marijuana; conspiracy to defraud the U.S. and impede and impair the Internal Revenue Service; bank fraud; and tax evasion.
Lucas Sirois is facing a new indictment after he was arrested Oct. 31 for allegedly receiving a firearm while under indictment, according to court records. He told a witness that if the case didn’t go the way he wanted, he would “end everyone that put me in this position,” court documents said.
Lucas Sirois’ original $500,000 bond in 2021 included a condition that he not violate any laws or use controlled substances, including marijuana, even with a prescription.
Robert Sirois is charged with one count each of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute marijuana and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. He is banned from handling marijuana because he is a convicted felon.
The three businesses are charged with maintaining a drug-involved premises.
The first defendant to plead guilty in the case was Randal Cousineau of Farmington, who admitted in October 2021 that he participated in a conspiracy to illegally cultivate and sell marijuana. Cousineau was the primary financier and 50% partner in an illegal marijuana cultivation facility in Farmington, according to court documents. He also held an interest in an illegal marijuana distribution company.
Former Franklin County Assistant District Attorney Kayla Alves pleaded guilty to one count of tampering with documents as part of a plea agreement in March 2022. She was sentenced in August 2022 to two years of probation and ordered to pay a $2,000 fine.
The remaining nine people who have entered guilty pleas, some as long as two years ago, have not been sentenced. They are all listed as witnesses for the U.S. Attorney’s Office during the trial.
Alisa Sirois pleaded guilty May 5 to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. One count each of bank fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering was dismissed as part of a plea agreement. Alisa Sirois was a licensed medical marijuana caregiver.
Kenneth Allen pleaded guilty Oct. 31 to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and to impede and impair the IRS, while one count of tax fraud was dismissed through a plea agreement.
Former Rangely selectman David Burgess pleaded guilty June 22, 2023, to one count each of conspiracy to manufacture, distribute and possess with intent to distribute marijuana; conspiracy to commit honest services fraud; and conspiracy to defraud the U.S. and impede and impair the IRS. One count each of bank fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering were dismissed through a plea agreement.
The crime of honest services fraud is defined as a scheme to defraud another of the intangible right to honest services by violating a fiduciary duty through bribery or kickbacks. A fiduciary duty is a duty to act only for the benefit of the public, an employer, shareholders or a union, the statute says.
Bradley Scovil, a former Franklin County Sheriff’s deputy, pleaded guilty June 22, 2023, to one count of conspiracy to commit honest services fraud. One count each of bank fraud and conspiracy to manufacture, distribute and possess with intent to distribute marijuana were dismissed through a plea agreement.
Derrick Doucette, a former Franklin County Sheriff’s deputy, pleaded guilty June 22, 2023, to one count of conspiracy to commit honest services fraud. One count each of bank fraud and conspiracy to manufacture, distribute and possess with intent to distribute marijuana were dismissed through a plea agreement.
Brandon Dagnese pleaded guilty March 24, 2023, to one count of conspiracy to manufacture, distribute and possess with intent to distribute marijuana as part of a plea agreement.
Ryan Nezol pleaded guilty June 26, 2023, to one count of conspiracy to manufacture, distribute and possess with intent to distribute marijuana as part of a plea agreement.
Former Oxford County Sheriff’s deputy James McLamb and former Wilton police officer Kevin Lemay were charged with tampering with documents after allegedly destroying or concealing messages between them and the others charged in the case. The charges against them were dismissed on Oct. 18, 2023.
