BANGOR, Maine — A Quebec man faces up to 10 years behind bars after he pleaded guilty in a Bangor courtroom Monday to a charge of illegally smuggling his wife into the U.S.
Pierre Poulin, 40, will face sentencing at a later date, according to the U.S. attorney’s office. In addition to jail time, Poulin faces a fine of up to $250,000. He pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court.
On July 17, Poulin used an all-terrain vehicle to drive his wife, a citizen of Brazil, to a wooded area near the Maine-Quebec border, according to court documents.
Poulin subsequently drove his vehicle to the Jackman border crossing and intended to pick his wife up several miles south of the crossing.
Officers at the border crossing became suspicious when Poulin’s wife’s passport, women’s clothing and a purse were found in the vehicle. He had claimed to have been traveling alone.
The woman was found by Border Patrol agents later that day near the border.
A sentencing date for Poulin has not been set.
