Farmington man faces life in prison in medical marijuana scheme
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A Farmington man was part of group that sold bulk marijuana illicitly to individuals who were not registered as caregivers.
A Farmington man entered a guilty plea in his role in an illegal marijuana scheme involving money laundering and public corruption.
Randal Cousineau, 69, of Farmington cultivated more than 1,000 marijuana plants and sold more than 1,000 kilograms of marijuana between 2016 and July 2020, according to documents filed in U.S. District Court in Bangor.
He faces life in prison and a $10 million fine, U.S. Attorney Darcie N. McElwee announced in a news release Wednesday.
The conspiracy was described in the release as an “end-run around Maine’s medical marijuana program.”
According to McElwee’s office, Cousineau was the primary financier and 50% partner with a co-conspirator in an illegal marijuana cultivation facility in Farmington. He also held an interest in an illegal marijuana distribution company.
Members of the conspiracy cultivated and sold marijuana in violation of Maine’s medical marijuana laws, selling bulk marijuana illicitly to individuals who were not registered as caregivers and for distribution outside of the state of Maine. Cousineau made "hundreds of thousands of dollars in profit from these illegal sales," the U.S. Attorney's office said.
Cousineau faces up to life in prison and a $10 million fine. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
In addition, 12 other defendants were charged in a 14-count complaint.
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