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Copper Wire Thief Sentenced to 1.5 Years
Bangor, ME – In a shocking turn of events, Michael J. Weston, a 38-year-old man from Milo, Maine, has been sentenced to 1.5 years in prison for damaging property of an energy facility. According to court records, Weston was involved in the theft of copper wire from substations owned by Emera Maine (formerly known as Bangor Hydro Electric Company) between 2010 and 2011.
The investigation revealed that Weston cut holes in fencing or cut locks to break into substations at Brooksville, Derby, Enfield, Milo, and Orrington, and stole hundreds of pounds of copper ground wire from the facilities. Over that period, Bangor Hydro was the victim of theft at about 19 of its substations.
According to Bangor Hydro officials, it is extremely dangerous for anyone without experience with electricity to enter the fenced areas of its transmitting substations and remove wire. Weston sold the stolen copper wire to Chester Gray’s Salvage Yard in Corinth, Maine.
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Maine State Police, and the Maine Fire Marshal’s Office. In a statement, U.S. Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II said, ‘This case highlights the importance of protecting our energy infrastructure.’
Weston was also ordered to pay $43,236 in restitution. His supervised release will last for 3 years. The charges arose out of Weston’s theft of copper wire from substations owned by Emera Maine.
Weston’s lawyer was not immediately available for comment. The case serves as a reminder of the dangers of theft and the importance of protecting our energy infrastructure.
Contact: James M. Moore, Assistant United States Attorney, (207) 945-0373.
Key Facts
- State: Maine
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
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