Peru Woman Armed with Handgun Sold Meth to Undercover Officer, Faces Life in Prison

A Peru, Maine woman’s life is about to change for good. 43-year-old Mandy Shorey pleaded guilty to distributing and possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine, conspiring to distribute and possess methamphetamine, and using a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime in U.S. District Court in Portland.

According to court records, from July 2022 to January 2023, Shorey made multiple sales of methamphetamine to an undercover officer in Portland after obtaining the drugs from her Massachusetts supplier, Angel Luis Lozano of Lowell, Massachusetts. Lozano, who has also pleaded guilty to federal drug charges, sold Shorey approximately 459 grams of methamphetamine which she in turn sold to the undercover officer.

Following several successful controlled buys from Shorey, in November 2022 the undercover officer arranged to purchase two pounds of methamphetamine from her. That night, while waiting for her supplier to arrive, Shorey was armed with a handgun; she told the undercover officer that it was her practice to always carry a firearm for protection when conducting drug deals. On January 26, 2023, Shorey again supplied the undercover officer with a substantial quantity of methamphetamine—approximately one pound—at the same Portland location.

Shorey faces a minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison, and a fine of up to $10 million followed by supervised release for at least five years and up to life for the drug charges. She faces a minimum sentence of five years and a fine of up to $250,000 on the firearms charge. She will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The FBI investigated the case with assistance from the Portland Police Department. This is not the first time the Portland Police Department has played a key role in taking down a major methamphetamine ring in the state.

Shorey’s case serves as a reminder that those involved in methamphetamine trafficking will face the full force of the law and severe penalties. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to work tirelessly to disrupt and dismantle these operations and bring those responsible to justice.

The case against Shorey and Lozano is a prime example of the federal government’s commitment to combating the opioid epidemic and related crimes. As the nation continues to grapple with the devastating effects of opioid addiction, it is more important than ever that we hold those responsible accountable for their actions.

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