BANGOR — A New Vineyard man pleaded guilty Friday in U.S. District Court to federal drug and gun charges that potentially could send him to prison for life, according to a statement from a U.S. attorney.
U.S. Attorney Halsey Frank stated in a news release that Jordan Richard, 24, formerly of Rangeley, now faces up to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to a charge of conspiracy to distribute cocaine, heroin, fentanyl and oxycodon. Richard also faces 10 years to life in prison after his guilty plea to discharging a firearm during, in relation to, or in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime — a shooting event that left one man dead.
In July 2016, Richard shot one of two men who were attempting to rob his Rangeley home with a semiautomatic handgun. One man fled the scene and was captured by police and the other died from his wounds.
Officers who were investigating the shooting discovered cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, oxycodone, cash and drug paraphernalia in the residence. The discovery prompted an investigation into Richard, which police say showed that in the period of January 2016 to September 2017, he and others conspired to traffic the drugs.
In addition to prison time, Richard faces up to eight years of supervised release for both charges. He also could be fined $1,000,000 and $250,000, respectively, for the drug and gun charges.
The investigation was led by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Maine State Police; and the Rangeley Police Department. The Office of the Maine Attorney General provided assistance.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
