BANGOR, Maine — An Exeter man who has sat in jail for nearly three years waiting to be sentenced in state court for a 2012 burglary, entered a not guilty plea Tuesday in federal court to Social Security fraud.
Clifford John Sprague, 37, was indicted on the federal charge last week and went before U.S. District Court Judge John Nivison, who accepted his plea and set his next court date, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew McCormack.
“He was put on the July trial list,” McCormack said. “There is a lot of stuff that could happen before then” to delay or quicken the process.
The federal charge stems from Sprague’s application for disability benefits in November 2011, about seven months before the burglary, according to the indictment. His girlfriend allegedly said he was disabled and that she had to clean, bathe, dress and cook for him.
In the separate state case, Sprague was the “mastermind” behind a June 22, 2012, break-in at the A.E. Robinson store in Corinth, according to Penobscot County District Attorney R. Christopher Almy. Sprague and three others backed a stolen pickup through the front doors of the store and stole cigarettes and a lottery ticket dispenser. The other three people involved have either served or are serving time for their involvement in the crime.
Sprague pleaded no contest in March 2013 to arson, burglary, aggravated criminal mischief and theft for his role in the store break-in, but he negotiated a plea agreement with Almy to postpone his sentencing while awaiting the results of a federal investigation into the fraud allegations.
In essence, Sprague chose to remain in a county jail in order to get a concurrent sentence once charged federally and to avoid serving as much time as possible in a more demanding federal prison.
He was just indicted on the federal charge last week but has been in jail since he was arrested the day of the break-in at the Corinth store. The nearly three years behind bars has cost taxpayers almost $100,000 so far, Penobscot County Sheriff Troy Morton said last week.
On the federal charge, Sprague faces up to five years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000 on the Social Security fraud charge.
Sprague’s plea agreement with Almy on the state charges calls for the prosecutor to recommend a sentence of 12 years, the district attorney said Thursday. The defense is free to argue for less time.
In addition to the federal fraud charges and state burglary charges, Sprague also has been charged in connection with a May 13, 2013, fight with another inmate, which resulted in injuries to two corrections officers, according to Almy. Two charges of assault on an officer and one count of assault are still pending, Almy said.
BDN reporter Judy Harrison contributed to this story.