DOJ Seal

Department of Justice

U.S. Attorney's Office
District of Maine

For Immediate Release

Friday, February 7, 2014
Thomas E. Delahanty II
, United States Attorney
Contact: Andrew McCormack

Monroe Woman Convicted of Federal Drug and Firearms Charges

Bangor, Maine:  United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced that Darlene Ford, 58, of Monroe, was found guilty in U.S. District Court yesterday after a 3 day jury trial of conspiracy to manufacture marijuana, maintaining a drug involved premises, and aiding and abetting a felon in possession of a firearm.

            Court proceedings revealed that in November 2011 a search warrant was executed at the defendant’s home in Monroe where agents found a large and sophisticated indoor marijuana growing operation and two rifles.  Trial evidence revealed that defendant and other family members conspired to grow hundreds of marijuana plants at the residence.  The defendant also aided and abetted her husband’s illegal possession of a firearm.

            Ford faces 40 years in prison and a $5,000,000 fine, or both, on the conspiracy charge; 20 years and a $500,000 fine, or both, on the drug premises charge; and 10 years and a $250,000 fine, or both, on the firearms charge.  She also faces forfeiture of her residence.  She will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the United States Probation Office.

            The investigation was conducted by the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Waldo County Sheriff’s Office and the Maine State Police.

 

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