Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced that a
federal grand jury sitting in Portland indicted Tasheem Carter, 29, of Far Rockaway, New York
and Lewiston, Maine, for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and oxycodone and
Christian Dent, 31, of Far Rockaway and Lewiston, for conspiracy to distribute 28 grams or
more of cocaine base, possession with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base and
being a felon in possession of a firearm. Also charged were Sabree Branch, 23, of Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania and Lewiston, for use of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime,
possession of cocaine base, and unlawful use of a communication facility; Michael Boney, 28,
of Far Rockaway and Auburn, Maine, for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and
cocaine base; Isar Coleman, 31, of Lewiston, for conspiracy to distribute cocaine base; Angela
Crabtree, 32, of Auburn, for possession with intent to distribute cocaine base; Katelynn
Dubois, 21, of Wales, Maine, for conspiracy to distribute oxycodone; Lee Eirby, 66, of
Lewiston, for maintaining a drug-involved premises; Isaac Fofie, 26, of New Sharon, Maine, for
conspiracy to distribute heroin and distribution of heroin; Kourtney Francoeur, 21, of
Lewiston, for conspiracy to distribute cocaine base; Jamel Hamilton, of Far Rockaway, for
conspiracy to distribute heroin; Willie Jackson, 32, of Lewiston, for possession with intent to
distribute cocaine base; Rebecca Thompson, 33, of Lewiston, for conspiracy to distribute
cocaine base; and Barney Whitfield, 33, of Lewiston, for possession with intent to distribute
cocaine base and heroin.
According to court records, the charges arise out of the distribution of cocaine and heroin
in the greater Lewiston/Auburn area. This morning, federal, state and local agents arrested
Branch, Coleman, Crabtree, Dubois, Eirby, Fofie, Francoeur, Hamilton, Jackson, Thompson and
Whitfield while executing warrants. Carter, Dent and Boney were all previously arrested on
criminal complaints. The defendants arrested today will make their initial appearances in the
U.S. District Court in Portland today.
Dent faces between five and 40 years in prison, a $4,000,000 fine and supervised release
for life on the drug charge or between 10 years and life and an $8,000,000 fine if he has a prior
felony drug conviction. On the gun charge, Dent also faces up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up
to $250,000 and three years of supervised release. Branch faces between five years and life, a
fine of $250,000 and five years of supervised release on the gun charge, up to 1 year, a $100,000
fine and up to 1 year of supervised release on the possession charge and up to 4 years, a
$250,000 fine and supervised release of up to one year on the communication facility charge.
Eirby faces up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. The
other defendants face up to 20 years in prison, a $1,000,000 fine and supervised release for life.
The case was investigated by the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency; the Lewiston and
Auburn Police Departments; the Maine State Police; and the Southern Maine Gang Task Force
comprised of agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Bureau of
Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; U.S.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations; and the Portland
and Biddeford Police Departments.
An indictment or criminal complaint is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed
innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
Press Alert: On Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2015, at 10:30a.m, U.S. Attorney Delahanty,
Lewiston Police Chief Michael Bussiere and Androscoggin County District Attorney Andrew
Robinson will hold a press conference regarding these cases at the Lewiston Police Department,
171 Park Street, Lewiston, Maine. Media members should arrive by 10:20 a.m. and will be
asked to provide identification credentials.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
