BANGOR, Maine — Eleven defendants allegedly involved in a conspiracy to illegally cultivate and sell marijuana at Narrow Gauge Distributors from 2016 through July 2020 appeared before a judge in United States District Court over Zoom on Thursday.
All defendants pleaded not guilty to all charges filed against them.
The 11 defendants arraigned were Lucas Sirois of Farmington, the alleged leader of the criminal operation; David Burgess, a former Rangeley selectman; Bradley Scovil, a former Franklin County sheriff's deputy; Derrick Doucette, another former Franklin County sheriff's deputy; James McLamb, a former Oxford County sheriff's deputy and former Dixfield town manager; Kevin Lemay, a Wilton police officer; Alisa Sirois, the estranged wife of Lucas Sirois; Robert Sirois, Lucas' father; Brandon Dagnese, the alleged dealer who would allegedly sell the marijuana out of state; Ryan Nezol of Farmington; and Kenneth Allen, Lucas Sirois' tax preparer.
Another suspect in this case, Kayla Alves, who, at the time charges were filed, was a Franklin County assistant district attorney, was not arraigned Thursday and has not yet been indicted. She is accused of telling a defendant in the case, former Franklin County Sheriff's Deputy Bradley Scovil, he was under investigation.
Alves is also accused of tampering with evidence for deleting incriminating text messages. A judge will decide her case at a later date.
According to the criminal complaint, Lucas Sirois allegedly used his drug money to corrupt members of local law enforcement and town government. He and the other defendants are currently out on bail with several conditions.
Two of the attorneys representing Sirois told NEWS CENTER Maine their client will plead not guilty to the charges brought against him at Thursday's arraignment.
Timothy Parlatore, who is representing Sirois, said after the arraignment, the government will be required to provide the defense with evidence collected against them. Parlatore said motions are then filled based on that evidence.
"There may be some things off the normal track where we're intending to file a motion, relatively early on, for an injunction," Parlatore said. "The Department of Justice is not able to expend any funds in the prosecution of anybody who is acting in accordance with state medical marijuana laws. If we're able to show, as I expect that we will, that everything mister Sirois did was in accordance with Maine state law, then the prosecution will be adjoined, and then the case will end at that point."
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Also involved with this case is Randal Cousineau, 69, of Farmington. Cousineau pleaded guilty to conspiring to possess and distribute marijuana and plants. He faces up to life in prison and a $10 million fine.
Jury selection for the trial is scheduled for Jan. 4, with a deadline to file a motion by Dec. 2. That date is expected to get pushed back due to significant discoveries presented by the prosecution this week that defense attorneys will likely want more time to review.