Lamar Young Pleads Guilty to Crack Distribution Conspiracy

Lamar Young, 29, formerly of Lewiston, Maine, admitted in federal court today to his role in a crack cocaine distribution ring that funneled drugs from Massachusetts into central Maine. Young pled guilty to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base, a charge that carries a mandatory minimum sentence and exposes him to decades behind bars.

Court records reveal the operation ran during late 2012 and early 2013, when Young and associates sourced bulk quantities of crack and cocaine powder from suppliers in Massachusetts. The drugs were transported across state lines, repackaged, and converted into crack as needed. The operation centered on a Lewiston apartment used as both a processing site and distribution hub for local buyers.

Young’s network operated with the precision of a small-scale cartel—acquiring, converting, packaging, and selling crack to users and street-level dealers in the Androscoggin County area. Investigators say the group worked to meet consistent local demand, exploiting vulnerable communities while lining their own pockets with illicit profits.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives led the investigation, working in tandem with the Lewiston Police Department and the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency. The multi-agency effort dismantled the ring through surveillance, informant testimony, and forensic evidence tying Young directly to the drug operation.

Now facing the consequences, Young could be sentenced to between five and 40 years in federal prison. He also risks a $5,000,000 fine and no less than four years of supervised release following any incarceration. Sentencing is pending the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.

“This case demonstrates the ongoing threat of organized drug trafficking, even in smaller communities,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig M. Wolff, who is prosecuting the case. “We’re committed to stopping the flow of dangerous narcotics and holding those who profit from addiction accountable.”