March 20, 2009

Fort Kent man pleads guilty to federal drug charges following ICE investigation

PORTLAND, Maine - A Fort Kent man pleaded guilty to federal drug charges following an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) special agents.

Chad Marquis, 31, pleaded guilty on March 10, 2009, in U.S. district court to federal drug charges for conspiracy to import marijuana and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana. Marquis faces a possible sentence of at least five years and a fine of no more than $2,000,000.

Court records reveal that between 2000 and May 2007, Marquis had been smuggling marijuana from Canada into the U.S. to sell to his friends. Over time, Marquis increased the amount of marijuana he smuggled, starting with one ounce and working his way up to 35 pounds at a time.

In May 2007, Marquis applied for entry to the United Stats at the Fort Kent Port of Entry. During a primary inspection of Marquis's truck, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers discovered seven vacuum-sealed packages containing marijuana that were hidden beneath a camouflage hunting jacket on the floor of the vehicle.

In addition to the marijuana seized at the time of Marquis's arrest, agents also recovered $74,850 in cash; a 2006 GMC Sierra pickup truck; a set of aftermarket wheels and tires for the pickup; a 2006 Ski-Doo snowmobile; a Bushmaster AR-15 carbine; 440 rounds of.223 ammunition and an Old Town canoe.

United States Attorney Paula D. Silsby praised the investigation conducted by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

-- ICE --

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was established in March 2003 as the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security. ICE is comprised of five integrated divisions that form a 21st century law enforcement agency with broad responsibilities for a number of key homeland security priorities.

  Last Modified: