United States Drug Enforcement Administration

BANGOR, Maine -  John J. Arvanitis, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England and United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced that Ryan Ellis, a/k/a” Dude”, “Calvin”, “Piles”, 34, formerly of Greenbush, Maine; Alan J. Ketchen, a/k/a “AJ”, “Hobbes”, 40, formerly of Bangor; Jamie Lewis, 38, formerly of Bangor; Jacob Gagnon, a/k/a “Jake the Snake”, 24, of Van Buren, Maine; Adam Hathorn, 33, of Bangor; Daniel Hines, 37, formerly of Bangor; April Kane, 27, of Gorham, Maine; and Gina Nelson, 30, formerly of Bangor have been charged in U.S. District Court with controlled substance and/or firearms offenses. Six additional defendants have been charged, but not yet apprehended. The charges stem from an 18-month-long investigation into the introduction of MDPV into the Bangor area in 2011.  MDPV is a chemical compound commonly referred to as “bath salts” or “monkey dust.” 

The Indictment charges all of the defendants with participation in the conspiracy to distribute MDPV.  Ryan Ellis and Alan Ketchen are also charged with maintaining places to make, distribute and use controlled substances. Ellis is also charged with possessing firearms while using or being addicted to a controlled substance and carrying firearms during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime.

If convicted, defendants face up to 20 years imprisonment and a $2,000,000 fine for the conspiracy charge; and up to 20 years and a $500,000 fine for maintaining drug-involved premises.  Ellis also faces up to 10 years and a $250,000 fine for possessing firearms while using drugs; and a minimum of at least 5 years up to a maximum term of life consecutive to any term of imprisonment imposed for the conspiracy charge, for carrying firearms during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime.

The investigation was primarily conducted by the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency with assistance from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.