Two Auburn men arrested and charged earlier this year in a sweeping federal drug raid are scheduled to go on trial in U.S. District Court in September.
Brian Bilodeau, 33, and Tyler Poland, 32, were indicted last month by a grand jury. Jury selection in each defendant’s trial is expected to begin Sept. 4, according to court documents.
L. to R.: Tyler Poland in a 2014 jail photo and Brian Bilodeau competing in the 2016 Maine Open golf tournament.
Bilodeau is facing two felony counts: possession with intent to distribute marijuana and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
The first charge is punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. On the second charge, Bilodeau faces five years to life in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
Poland was indicted on two counts: possession with intent to distribute MDMA, commonly known as ecstasy, and possession with intent to distribute marijuana. The maximum punishment for each of the felonies is 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million.
Both men pleaded not guilty at arraignment to all counts and are free on bail. Both men were ordered to surrender their passports.
The charges stem from a Feb. 27 federal raid in the by drug agents, who said a drug trafficking organization was distributing large quantities of marijuana under the cover of Maine’s medical marijuana program. Officials alleged that the organization sold to buyers who were not legal participants in the state-sanctioned program and included out-of-state customers.
Federal, state and local law enforcement agents had executed more than 20 search warrants in the Lewiston-Auburn area.
Agents searched Bilodeau’s home, where they seized a reported 183 pounds of marijuana, butane hash oil, a loaded .380-caliber pistol, a loaded 9mm pistol, an unloaded .45-caliber pistol and an unloaded .22-caliber rifle.
The marijuana, hash oil and one gun were found in a concrete room measuring 8 feet by 10 feet in the basement of Bilodeau’s home, The room was secured with a metal vault door, according to an affidavit filed by a federal drug agent. Two guns were found in the master bedroom, one on top of a nightstand and loaded. The rifle was found in another bedroom.
Agents also seized a 2016 Lamborghini Huracán, valued at $190,000, and a 2014 Nissan GT-R, valued at $60,000. Automobiles can be forfeited as proceeds from drug trafficking, assisted in drug trafficking or were involved in money laundering offenses.
In his indictment, Bilodeau faces forfeiture to the federal government any money used in the commission of crimes with which he is charged, and any guns used in crimes, including his Beretta BU9 Nano 9mm pistol found in his home.
He was arrested Feb. 28.
On Feb. 27, federal agents searched the house, warehouse and office of Poland, who was arrested March 12.
The search of Poland’s office turned up files for his company, TY Construction, which is incorporated in Maine, according to agents.
In the office, agents discovered pink ecstasy pills in a small credenza between two bookshelves, according to an agent’s affidavit filed with the court.
Agents also found two bags concealed behind another desk in the office. One bag contained pink pills, the other white pills believed to be alprazolam, a generic prescription tranquilizer. No prescription bottle for the medication was found at the office, Gagnon wrote.
Tax records reflected income earned by TY Construction, the agent wrote.
Agents found a key in a baseball glove that opened an office safe where $140,000 in cash had been secured. Another $16,370 in cash was found elsewhere in the office.
Poland faces forfeiture of all property seized by agents that is believed to have been received in connection with the drug charges again him.
The property includes: $156,370 in cash seized from his office Feb. 27, a Tag Heuer Carrera Calibre 1887 wristwatch, $72,293.39 in three TD Bank accounts and $220,000 in a Mechanic Savings Bank account.
cwilliams@sunjournal.com
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