BANGOR – A Calais man was sentenced on Tuesday in U.S. District Court to one year and a day in prison for importing OxyContin into the United States from Canada.

Ralph Manza, 34, also was sentenced to three years of probation after his release.

He faced a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Perry, who prosecuted the case, recommended Manza be sentenced to 13 months in prison, while defense attorney David Bate of Bangor recommended the sentence of one year and day.

State charges of receiving stolen goods against Manza are pending in Washington County Superior Court. The charges were lodged while Manza was on bail for the federal drug charge. He has been in custody since bail was revoked in June.

Manza was arrested on the federal charge in July 2003 at the Calais border crossing as his car was being towed across the border. The driver of the tow truck told agents that he had seen Manza remove the dome light from inside the tow truck and place something inside it.

Agents found 44 pills inside the dome light and Manza’s prints on the cover, according to court documents.

In handing down the sentence, U.S. District Judge John Woodcock outlined the downward spiral Manza’s life had taken since he last worked in 2001. That year, Manza, a welder, injured his shoulder and became addicted to prescription drugs.

“Now, your wife is in jail, your child has been taken away from you and is living with your mother-in-law, and you have pending charges in state court,” Woodcock said on Tuesday. “The reason you’re here, the reason your life is such a disaster, is your use of prescription drugs.”

Manza’s wife, Melissa Manza, 24, has been convicted in state court on a variety of charges including assault and drug possession.

“I’d never experienced drug use before my injury,” Manza told the court on Tuesday. “Then, my dad’s death fell upon me. I know what I’ve done and I’d like to say that I’m sorry from the bottom of my heart.”

In an unrelated case, a Florida man was sentenced on Tuesday in federal court to 16 months in prison for sending more than 15 pounds of cocaine through the mail to a Stonington man in 2002.

Frederick Maahs, 50, of Deland, Fla., who pleaded guilty to the charges in June, also was sentenced to three years of probation. Both men faced maximum sentences of 20 years in prison and fines of $1 million.

According to court documents, Maahs mailed 33 packages from Florida to Lawrence Bartlett, 58, between January 2002 and January 2003. Each package contained less than half a pound of the drug. Now-retired U.S. Postal Inspector Wilfred Moores discovered the scheme.

Bartlett, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy with intent to distribute cocaine in August 2003, was sentenced on Dec. 19 to 31 months in prison and four years probation.

In a different case, a Waterville man was sentenced on Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Bangor to two years in prison for possessing an unregistered explosive device.

Douglas Lee Clifford, 50, also was sentenced to three years probation after his release. He faced a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Clifford told law enforcement officials he had made the device that contained 250 galvanized steel balls, and intended it to be a homemade firecracker.