November 07, 2024
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Two more men indicted in alleged cocaine ring

BANGOR – And then there were 14.

Two more men were indicted earlier this month by a federal grand jury for allegedly being part of a cocaine distribution ring that stretched from northern Penobscot County to Costa Rica.

Jeffrey Whitehead, 54, of Enfield and Mark Russell, 41, of Lincoln were indicted by a federal grand jury July 16 for conspiring to distribute drugs. Whitefield also was indicted for Social Security fraud.

Both men are incarcerated out of state, according to court documents.

Their arraignments in U.S. District Court have not been scheduled.

A dozen men and women originally were indicted in November on drug conspiracy and other charges for their alleged involvement in distributing more than 11 pounds of cocaine in the Lincoln and Lee area from 2002 through 2005. A superseding indictment issued earlier this month added Whitehead and Russell.

Whitehead is scheduled to be released in December after serving nearly two years in federal prison. He was indicted on drug charges in August 2006 after selling cocaine and heroine the previous summer to undercover officers. He was sentenced in January 2007 to 30 months in prison after pleading guilty to the charges. He is expected to be credited with time for good behavior and for the 31/2 months he was held while awaiting sentencing.

Information about the relationship between Mark Russell, incarcerated in North Carolina on unspecified charges, and brothers Richard “Rat” Russell, 48, and Donald “Donnie” Russell, 50, both of Lincoln, was not available Monday. The brothers were indicted last year and have pleaded not guilty to being part of the drug conspiracy.

So far, 11 of the original dozen accused conspirators have pleaded not guilty to the charges. Their arrests were delayed until May because the alleged ringleader, Michael Mayer, 54, of Jupiter, Fla., and Costa Rica, was living in Central America.

Mayer is in the process of being extradited to Maine, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Jeffrey Polk, 36, formerly of Maine, is expected to be released on $100,000 secured bail later this week. One of the original 12 indicted last year, he was arrested more than two months ago while working on an oil rig in northeast Alaska above the Arctic Circle.

Polk’s bail is expected to be posted by Willy Lucas, the owner a golf course in Old Town. He also is expected to provide a place for Polk, who will be subject to electronic monitoring, to live and a job.

The other defendants, who have pleaded not guilty, in the case are:

. Laurent “Larry” Provost, 60, of Woonsocket, R.I.

. Daniel “Danny” Littlefield, 49, of Lee.

. Troy Littlefield, 42, of Oakfield.

. Robert Donath, 28, of Lincoln.

. Peter Glidden, 31, of Smithfield.

. Nancy Squeglia, 51, of East Millinocket.

. Brent “Cowboy” Noyes, 57, of Lincoln.

. Preston Chubbuck, 43, of Springfield.

Provost, Chubbuck, Richard Russell and Squeglia are being held without bail. The other defendants, except for Mayer, have been released on bail or are expected to be released.

The Littlefield men are related, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, but are not siblings.

jharrison@bangordailynews.net

990-8207


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