PORTLAND, Maine — Two men from out of state pleaded guilty Friday in U.S. District Court to drug charges in connection with a crack cocaine distribution ring, according to the U.S. attorney’s office.
Russell Gordon, 31, of Ansonia, Connecticut, and Robert Joiner, Jr., 30, of Detroit, Michigan, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to conspiring to distribute 28 grams or more of crack cocaine.
Gordon, who was also known as “Murder,” “Black” and “M1,” also pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base, according to a press release issued Friday by the U.S. attorney’s office. In addition to the conspiracy charge, Joiner also pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of cocaine base.
Between December 2013 and January 2015, Gordon and Joiner conspired with each other and with others to sell crack cocaine in Portland, according to the prosecution version of events to which they pleaded guilty.
Gordon would arrange for the acquisition of drugs out of state. Once the drugs were transported to Maine, they were provided to retail distributors who would sell the drugs in the Portland area, and then return the cash proceeds to Gordon.
During the course of the investigation, law enforcement officers conducted controlled purchases of crack cocaine from Joiner and from other members of the conspiracy, according to the U.S. attorney’s office. Gordon was arrested on Jan. 9 in Portland, according to court documents. At the time of his arrest, officers found in close proximity to him a bag containing 89 net grams — equal to slightly more than three ounces —
of cocaine base and more than $9,000 in cash.
Gordon faces between five and 40 years in prison and a $5 million fine on each count. Joiner faces up to 40 years in prison and a $5 million fine on the conspiracy count and up to 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine on the distribution charge.
The men are scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 3.
Their three codefendants, Mario Gordon, 34, Detroit, Michigan, Samuel collins, 49, and Katie McNielly, 36, both of Portland are scheduled to be tried on similar charges in federal court in Portland.
This case was investigated by the Southern Maine Gang Task Force, which is comprised of investigators from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Portland Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The Biddeford and Lewiston Police Departments, the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, and the Maine State Police also assisted with the investigation.