BANGOR, Maine — The Belfast man who six years ago gathered together the men involved in an “explosion” of cocaine trafficking and use in Waldo County was sentenced Friday by U.S. District Judge John Woodcock to 30 months behind bars.
“He nurtured at its infancy, a drug conspiracy that almost destroyed a community in Waldo County,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel Casey said of Christopher Hurley, 30.
At least 11 people have been charged or sentenced in the Waldo County cocaine distribution ring, including Hurley and his brother, Matthew Hurley, 28, who met their now-convicted drug supplier while attending Wheaton College, in Norton, Mass., Woodcock said, recounting the case.
After meeting Bronx, N.Y., resident Ralphy Dominguez at college, the Hurley brothers began using cocaine and, starting in the summer of 2005, arranged for Dominguez to smuggle the white powdery stimulant into Maine.
“He was a drug dealer,” Woodcock said of Christopher Hurley. “He admitted he was a drug dealer.”
Christopher Hurley decided to travel to Europe in the fall of 2005, but before he left he put his New York coke connection in touch with locals who went on to create the cocaine ring that was in operation until busted by federal drug agents in 2009, the judge said.
The yearlong investigation was conducted by the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency’s Mid-Coast Task Force, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Investigative assistance also was provided by the Waldo County Sheriff’s Department, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The Hurley brothers pleaded guilty in July to one count each of conspiracy with the intent to distribute and distribution of 500 grams — more than a pound — of cocaine between Jan. 1, 2005, and March 20, 2009.
Matthew Hurley was sentenced in February to a federal prison for four years and eight months, and Christopher Hurley’s sentencing was postponed to allow Woodcock to determine how much cocaine he would be held legally responsible for.
In the Hurley brother’s plea agreements, federal prosecutors calculated both men had and sold 17 ounces of cocaine between 2005 and 2009, which was questioned by Woodcock because Christopher Hurley told the court he left the drug scene in late 2005 when he left Maine.
Woodcock said he was “mystified why a defendant would agree to a much higher” amount than what he otherwise stated, but went forward and sentenced Hurley based on the plea agreement.
Woodcock did recommend that Christopher Hurley be allowed to serve his time at the same Colorado prison that now is home to his brother.
Ever since leaving Maine in 2005, Christopher Hurley has basically been drug free and has been working in New York for the last few years, his attorney Jon Haddow said.
“While he’s moved on — a lot of people in Waldo County have not,” said Casey, who prosecuted the case. “While 30 months is at the lower range [of the sentencing guidelines] it’s still a lot of time. That would send a message to all the people of Waldo County that the court doesn’t forget.”
Hurley also addressed the court before Woodcock issued his sentence and apologized to his parents, his friends and his home community.
“I didn’t know how my actions could hurt others and my community,” he said, adding later that now “I’m painfully aware of all the negative impact of my actions.”
He ended by saying he has turned his life around since his days dealing drugs, and after serving his prison sentence will go back to living a full and healthy life.
“I take full responsibility for my actions and I’m incredibly sorry for what I did,” Hurley said. “I won’t let it define my life.”
“Cocaine …… the white powdery stimulant…. ”
should read busted in cocaine line, not ring
“He ended by saying he has turned his life around since his days dealing drugs, and after serving his prison sentence will go back to living a full and healthy life.”
Unfortunately a great many people that he and his friends dealt their poison to can’t say the same thing. Their lives and the lives of their family will carry the scars forever.
RIP Joe Natalie!
A lot of people have played with cocaine and it didn’t ruin their lives. It’s just like alcohol I suppose, some people can’t just use it and enjoy it, they have to abuse it. I never cared for the stuff myself but a lot of my friends used to and they don’t seem to be any worse off for it. These sentences seem harsh to me for selling something that’s milder than alcohol. I also don’t understand how one guy got charged after he quit selling for years and already turned his life around. This prohibition stuff knows no boundaries.
Cocaine is illegal. Selling and distributing it is illegal. Alcohol is not. That is a fact. There are consequences for your actions when you put yourself into this drug world. Maybe Mr. Hurley has learned from this. It appears you have not.
“I also don’t understand how one guy got charged after he quit selling for years and already turned his life around.”
It’s called statute of limitations. Based on the offense, you can commit it today and still be charged with it years later. Nothing new about that.
“These sentences seem harsh to me for selling something that’s milder than alcohol.” I’m not sure where you got you education about cocaine or alcohol, but you must have been in the same classroom with the Hurleys.
I went to school with Matt and had a couple classes with him, even though he was a few years older than me. I found him to be a really nice guy and my experience was that he treated most people with an uncommon amount of respect, even if he didn’t know them that well. Everyone makes mistakes.
Well in my book it’s not showing respect to anyone by selling them illegel drugs, that’s not a “Mistake” it’s a choise This Drug Dealer got off very light. Too bad for us.
It is also a choice to buy the drug from someone who is selling.
Speeding or drunk driving can be a mistake. Selling cocaine week after week for years in your community for several years is not a mistake, it is a conscious effort.
“I found him to be a really nice guy and my experience was that he treated most people with an uncommon amount of respect, even if he didn’t know them that well.” Those must have been the people he wasn’t selling his poison too. It is clear he had absolutely no respect for the people he was dealing to, his family or the community he grew up in. He and his brother destroyed the lives of a great many people in Belfast and the surrounding Waldo County area. I hope their family is really proud of them.
“Almost destroyed a community”, Well now we know that it will only cost you 2 1/2 years to bring this suffering to a town of your choosing.
Seems odd that someone would defend this man when so many many were bashing and hanging Jerry Perdomo a few weeks ago. Read a comment during that time that said that everyone would feel different about a drug dealer that was from Maine and not from away. It seems that this has come true. The Hurley’s are from Maine so many are welling to see them as “good boys” whereas Perdomo was from away so he was the worst. I am not saying that any drug dealer is good — just find it odd that sympathy is given to this guy.
I also know both the Hurley’s they are “nice” boys who had little in the form of guidance at least from when I first met them in middle school. Lots of places to party with these boys.
a pound of cocaine in 4 years, and they’re acting like they busted the sinaloa cartel?
That is just what they were convicted of because they cut a deal to keep from getting longer sentences. If you had bothered to follow the story before you chose to comment you would know that they and their friends were dealing KILO”S of cocaine during their reign.
Marching powder has darkened many bright paths.
While these young men broke the law, they did not personally RUIN anyone’s lives. Cocaine was around (a lot) in the Belfast area long before these boys went off to college (in fact while they were still in diapers and long before) and started their business. AND they never FORCED anyone to partake of the “evil drug”.
You see, that’s not how it works. Person “A” decides they want the drug. They ask around, eventually someone, person “B” tells them about the supplier; person “C”. Person “A” then contacts person “C” to buy said drug. Person “C” sells drug to person “A” and that is the end of the transaction. Person “A” is completely responsible for his or her own behavior. There are those who will fail to control their actions and complicate, destroy, or lose their lives because of substance abuse…any substance.
While sad, it is appropriate that these young men be punished. But please stop acting like they control the behavior of others and are responsible for all the ills in Mid-Coast ME. That ship has sailed. The ME economy is responsible and has been for many a year. In the end, you, me, and everyone are responsible ONLY for our own actions. Stop blaming others.
“While these young men broke the law, they did not personally RUIN anyone’s lives.” I doubt if the people they directly sold cocaine to who now deal with their addiction on a daily basis would agree with you.