Bradley And Old Town Residents Plead Guilty To Bath Salt Distribution Conspiracy
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 Gina Nelson, 31, of Bradley, Maineand Michael Tardiff, a/k/a “Bub”, 54, of Old Town, Maine pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Bangor to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and to distribute MDPV, a chemical compound commonly referred to as “bath salts” or “monkey dust”.
According to court records, the members of the conspiracy illegally distributed MDPV in Penobscot County and elsewhere between April and December 2011. The defendants obtained MDPV from other members of the conspiracy and traded, sold or otherwise distributed it using cellular telephones and other means of communication.
The defendants face up to 20 years in prison, a $1,000,000 fine, or both. They will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.
The defendants are two of fourteen defendants charged by indictment as part of the conspiracy. An indictment is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Co-defendants Elizabeth Mikotowicz, a/k/a “Beth,” Steven Orosco, a/k/a “Pablo,” Alan Alan Ketchen, a/k/a “AJ,” Daniel Hines, Adam Hathorn, and Tina Keaton, a/k/a “Fumble,” all of Bangor; Jessica Bryden, of Greenbush, Maine; and Matthew Tardiff, of Old Town, Maine; previously pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charge and await sentencing.
The case was investigated by the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency with assistance from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bangor Police Department.
