Clifton couple pleads not guilty to drug, gun charges

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BANGOR – A Clifton couple has pleaded not guilty to federal drug and gun possession charges. William Sjostrom and Brenda Sjostrom, both 41, entered their pleas Thursday in U.S. District Court in Bangor. The couple’s trial has been scheduled for September. William…
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BANGOR – A Clifton couple has pleaded not guilty to federal drug and gun possession charges.

William Sjostrom and Brenda Sjostrom, both 41, entered their pleas Thursday in U.S. District Court in Bangor. The couple’s trial has been scheduled for September.

William Sjostrom was indicted earlier this month by a federal grand jury on three counts of possession of OxyContin with intent to distribute on Dec. 29, 30 and Jan. 2 and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Brenda Sjostrom was indicted on one count of possession of OxyContin with intent to distribute on Jan. 2.

William Sjostrom has been released on $15,000 unsecured bail, and his wife has been released on $10,000 unsecured bail.

Details about the incidents that took place this winter were not available Monday. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Perry who is prosecuting the case was at a conference out of state.

If convicted, William Sjostrom could be sentenced to up to 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $2 million on the drug charges and up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 on the firearm charge.

Brenda Sjostrom faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million if convicted on the drug charge.

The federal indictment of a Lubec woman charged with importing OxyContin into the U.S. from Canada in a condom inside her vagina was unsealed last week.

Lisa Dawn Fitzgerald aka Lisa Dawn Chute, 30, who is scheduled to be arraigned on June 28, is free on $5,000 unsecured bail.

According to court documents, she has dual citizenship in the United States and Canada.

She was arrested on May 21 at the Calais border crossing. Border Patrol officers searched Fitzgerald after she did not offer any identification.

During the search, two female U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers discovered 159 oxycodone pills inside a condom that was protruding from her vagina, according to an affidavit filed in the case.

Fitzgerald told officers that she had been paid $200 to smuggle the painkiller into the United States, according to court documents.

If convicted, she faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million.


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