BANGOR, Maine — A Bangor man was sentenced Tuesday in federal court to 8½ years in prison for his role as the “dealer to dealers” during the 2011 conspiracy to distribute synthetic bath salts, a street drug known as Monkey Dust.
Jamie Lewis, 39, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge John Woodcock Jr. for one count of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute MDPV, a synthetic hallucinogen commonly called “bath salts.” It emerged as a street drug in the Queen City in February 2011, and Lewis is one of 14 Mainers charged federally in the drug trafficking ring.
“He was in the top echelon. He was the dealer to dealers who dealt with users,” Woodcock said of Lewis just before he sentenced him. “He was one step away from the local boss.”
Ryan Ellis, 34, of Greenbush has admitted to being the ringleader in the bath salts conspiracy that reached beyond Penobscot County, extending south to Knox County and north to Aroostook County. The drug, which was outlawed in Maine in July 2011, is known to cause paranoia, convulsions and psychotic behavior in users and has been linked to a handful of deaths in the Bangor area.
Woodcock and Assistant Attorney General Joel Casey, the federal prosecutor, described the amount of drugs found by investigators at a house rented by Lewis as “staggering.” Both also said the Bangor community is still reeling from the effects of the highly addictive drug, which peaked in use in 2011 and 2012.
“He fronted the drugs and in return he took cash and stolen property,” Woodcock said, adding Lewis also was selling other illegal or diverted drugs.
“Four years ago I pushed poison on the streets of Bangor,” Lewis said. “I made a bad decision, acted selfishly and knowingly broke the law.”
Lewis, who said he entered drug rehab and has been sober for two years, apologized for his actions and thanked his family and friends for their support. His mother, brother, sister and other family members were in the galley during the sentencing at the Margaret Chase Smith Federal building. Two spoke in support of him.
George Hess, Lewis’ Auburn attorney, asked for a lesser sentence saying that now that his client is sober, he can see the ills of his ways and has started to turn things around by attending college in hopes of one day becoming a drug and alcohol counselor.
Before Woodcock handed down his sentence, he questioned Lewis about a 12-year-old daughter that he has never met and for which he owes in excess of $26,000 in back child support. Afterward, the federal judge said he would not impose a fine but instead would require Lewis to pay any court-ordered judgements, which includes the past due child support.
“I want that child support paid,” the judge said. “There is simply no reason other people should support your child.”
Nine of the 14 involved in the drug ring have been sentenced, receiving varying penalties from probation to Lewis’ 8½ years behind bars.
Steven Orosco, 23, of Orrington is scheduled to be sentenced on May 4, and sentencing dates for Ellis, Jacob Gagnon, 25, of Van Buren, formerly of Bangor, and Lewis’ roommate, Alan Ketchen, 40, of Bangor, are still pending.
Tina Keaton, 32, also known as “Fumble,” of Bangor and Michael “Bub” Tardiff Sr., 54, of Old Town were sentenced in 2014 to time served or nearly a year each in jail.
Tardiff’s son Matthew Tardiff, 27, of Old Town is serving a 57-month sentence at the federal corrections institute in Berlin, New Hampshire.
Adam Hathorn, 36, of Bangor got 7½ years; Jessica Bryden, 21, of Greenbush received eight years and one month; Daniel Hines, 37, of Orrington got five years and 10 months; April Kane, 28, of Gorham was sentenced to three years of supervised release; Elizabeth Mikotowicz, 27, of Bangor got three years in prison; and Gina Nelson, 30, of Bradley was sentenced to six years in prison.
Woodcock also gave Lewis 3 years of probation after he exits prison, with conditions that he not use drugs or alcohol, and he ordered counselling.
BDN Reporter Judy Harrison contributed to this story.