Federal appeals court upholds prosecution of couple in Franklin County marijuana money laundering case

PORTLAND – A federal appeals court on Tuesday affirmed the U.S. District Court’s denial of Lucas and Alisa Sirois’ motion to end federal prosecution against them for an illegal marijuana operation and money laundering in Franklin County.

Prosecutors said the couple, whose specific county addresses could not be confirmed, failed to prove that their marijuana operation complied with Maine’s medical marijuana laws. As a result, the prosecution will continue in federal court, according to a news release from Craig Wolff, spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Maine.

The couple tried to stop their prosecution by invoking the Rohrabacher-Farr Amendment, which bars the Justice Department from prosecuting cases that would hinder states’ ability to implement their own medical marijuana laws, Wolff wrote.

“But because the defendants failed to demonstrate that their activities complied with Maine law, the appeals court found that the U.S. Attorney’s Office had not violated the amendment. As reflected in the Court’s opinion, Maine’s Office of Cannabis Policy requested that the federal government investigate the defendants because it believed they were operating as a collective, which was illegal under Maine law. The Court further concluded that Lucas Sirois had failed to rebut the government’s evidence that he knowingly engaged in the sale of more than $1 million worth of marijuana on the black market,” Wolff wrote.

Maine State Police officers load marijuana plants into a shipping container behind Narrow Gauge Distributors in Farmington on July 21, 2020. On Tuesday, a federal appeals court upheld the U.S. District Court’s denial of Lucas and Alisa Sirois’ motion to end federal prosecution against them in an illegal marijuana operation and multimillion-dollar money laundering scheme in Franklin County. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal file file

Lucas Sirois and several co-conspirators are alleged to have made more than $13 million in proceeds over six years from the illegal sale of marijuana, including from black market sales outside Maine. The alleged conspiracy involved recruiting co-conspirators to grow marijuana on his behalf, creating an illegal collective and laundering the proceeds through a complex network of companies he controlled.

Sirois faces 11 charges, including conspiracy to commit money laundering, bank fraud and tax evasion.

Alisa Sirois faces three charges, including conspiracy to commit money laundering and bank fraud.

Five conspirators have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing. Charges are still pending against others.

The Siroises and nine others were indicted by a federal grand jury in Bangor in November 2021.

In October 2023, a federal judge dismissed charges against co-defendants James McLamb of Auburn and Kevin Lemay of Farmington, former law enforcement officers in Oxford County and Wilton.

A 12th defendant, Kayla Alves, then 37, a former assistant district attorney with the Franklin County District Attorney’s Office, was never charged but pleaded guilty in March 2022 to a federal charge of tampering with records. She told a former law enforcement officer allegedly involved in the marijuana operation that he was under investigation and deleted text messages with him, according to federal court documents. She was sentenced to two years probation and a $2,000 fine. She was dismissed from her position when the investigation and related activities came to light. Her license to practice law was suspended but has since been reinstated.

Two former Franklin County sheriff’s deputies, Bradley Scovil of Rangeley and Derrick Doucette, pleaded guilty in federal court in June 2023 to conspiracy to defraud Franklin County residents and deprive them of their right to honest and faithful service from the defendants through bribery , according to court documents.

Defendant David Burgess of Rangeley, a former selectmen there, also pleaded guilty to three federal charges in 2023, admitting his involvement in a lucrative illegal marijuana and money laundering ring operating in Franklin County. As part of a plea deal, he will spend up to nine years in prison.

Defendant Ryan Nezol of Farmington pleaded guilty in federal court last year to his role in an illegal medical marijuana operation and money laundering in Franklin County.

Another co-defendant, Brandon Dagnese of Windham, admitted to charges of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances after entering a plea agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in March 2023. Under the agreement, he must spend a minimum of 30 months and a maximum of three years in prison.

Defendants Kenneth Allen of Farmington, Robert Sirois, father of Lucas Sirois, of Farmington, and Alisa and Lucas Sirois entered no pleas in the case.

An additional defendant, Randal Cousineau, 69, of Strong was the primary financier and half-interest partner with a co-conspirator in an illegal marijuana cultivation and distribution scheme based in Farmington, according to federal officials. He pleaded guilty in 2021.

He agreed three years ago to forfeit all property and money related to the charges, including:

• Properties and assets owned by Sandy River Properties, including property at 374 High St. in Farmington.

• Property and assets owned by Lakemont.

• Properties and assets owned by Narrow Gauge Distributors Inc.

• A total of $264,220.50 held at Franklin-Somerset Federal Credit Union in Lakemont’s name.

• A total of $15,676.36 held at Franklin-Somerset Federal Credit Union, also in Lakemont’s name.

Lucas Sirois was partners in several properties jointly owned by Cousineau. These properties are being sued and have not yet been resolved.

None of the defendants, except Alves, have been convicted.

Copy the story link