A multi-year federal investigation brought down a drug trafficking ring in Penobscot and Aroostook counties, resulting in the convictions of 22 people.
Daquan Corbett’s sentencing on Oct. 28 concluded the widespread conspiracy. He had a leadership role in trafficking methamphetamine and fentanyl from Brockton, Massachusetts, to Aroostook County, Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel Casey said.
The 22-person conspiracy brought in a “staggering” quantity of drugs, enough to cause 3.7 million overdoses in a state with a population of about 1.8 million people, Casey said. Each of the people were involved in “destructive conduct that harms everyone who lives in the communities where they were dealing,” Casey said.
It was the largest drug conspiracy case in Maine federal court, Judge Stacey Neumann said at Corbett’s sentencing. The ring ran from 2018 to 2022.
All 22 people were convicted and sentenced in the U.S. District of Maine in Bangor.
Corbett, 31, was the head of the conspiracy that brought hundreds of thousands of grams of drugs into Maine, she said. His motivation appeared to be greed, Neumann said.
Corbett was sentenced to 23 years in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl.
Millions of dollars from the drug trafficking ring and guns from Maine would be brought back to Corbett’s community in Massachusetts, Casey said.
During a two-year period, Corbett delivered at least $1 million of meth and $1.5 million of fentanyl to a co-conspirator, according to a finding of fact from Neumann. Drugs would be brought to apartments in Bangor and then sold to people locally or taken up to Aroostook County.
Corbett asked Neumann for leniency during his sentencing, saying he isn’t a monster and there’s nothing he can do with his life if he’s released from prison when he’s around 60 years old.
Family members at Corbett’s sentencing talked about how he helped his community in Brockton, Massachusetts, by organizing toy drives and feeding homeless people. They said they didn’t want to minimize his actions, but what the court saw was just a small snippet of Corbett.
Neumann said she didn’t think he wasn’t a monster, but said it was important to message about the seriousness of Corbett’s offense.
All 22 people will serve probation after their prison sentences, Casey said. That will give them a chance for job training and substance use treatment, he said.
“These people will be given a chance to live a sober life, reconnect with their families and loved ones, and become contributing members of our community,” Casey said.
The people convicted and sentenced are:
— Daviston Jackson, 28, of Brockton was sentenced to 20 years in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl.
— Andrew Adams, 32, of Aroostook County was sentenced to 10 years for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl.
— Matthew Catalano, 38, of Penobscot County was sentenced to nearly 14 years for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, and unlawful user of controlled substances in possession of a firearm.
— Christopher Coty, 44, of Bangor was sentenced to four years for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl.
— Jason Cunrod, 42, of Caribou was sentenced to four years for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl.
— Blaine Footman, 38, of Bangor was sentenced to five years for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine, as well as an unlawful user of controlled substance in possession of a firearm.
— Nicole Footman, 41, of Holden was sentenced to three years for aiding and abetting conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl.
— Dwight Gary, Jr., 54, of Medway was sentenced to time served, about five months, for false statements to a federal firearms licensee.
— Carol Gordon, 53, of Bangor was sentenced to time served, which was about two and a half years, for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl.
— Thomas Hammond, 26, of Charleston was sentenced to seven years for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl.
— Joshua Jerrell, 30, of Orrington was sentenced to time served, which was about three years, for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, and conspiracy to make false statements to a federal firearms licensee.
— James King, 55, of Caribou was sentenced to nearly 14 years for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl.
— Shelby Loring, 29, of Bangor was sentenced to time served, which was slightly less than three years, for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl.
— Danielle McBreairty, 34, of Glenburn was sentenced to 20 years for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, and an unlawful user of controlled substance in possession of a firearm.
— John Miller, 24, of Caribou was sentenced to four and a half years for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl.
— Aaron Rodgers, 43, of Bangor was sentenced to time served, which was just under three years for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl.
— Wayne Smith, 33, of Bangor was sentenced to just over seven years for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl.
— Joshua Young, 48, of Presque Isle was sentenced to time served, which was about two months, plus two years of house arrest for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl.
— Tamara Davis, 29, of Fall River, Massachusetts, was sentenced to time served, which was about two years for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
— Sarah McBreairty, 36, of Dixmont was sentenced to five years for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl and conspiracy to make false statements to a federal firearms licensee.
— James Valiante, 42 of Linneus, was sentenced to three years for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl.
