A Lewiston man, Max Gbetibouo, has been sentenced to 51 months in prison for the armed robbery of a convenience store in Saco. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Nancy Torresen in Portland. Following his prison term, Gbetibouo will be subject to three years of supervised release. As an Ivory Coast national, he is likely to face deportation after serving his sentence. He has also been ordered to pay restitution to the victim.

Gbetibouo pleaded guilty on August 13, 2024. Court records reveal that in September 2021, he entered the convenience store with a weapon and demanded money from the register. The store clerk complied with his demands, and Gbetibouo fled on foot. The incident was recorded on surveillance video.

The investigation involved multiple agencies including the Saco Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Portland Police Department.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities. The initiative focuses on fostering trust within communities, supporting violence prevention organizations, setting strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring outcomes.

For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psn.