Related Federal Cases
- Robert Richard, Armed Robbery of Pharmacy, Maine 2013 · Missouri
- James J. Senior, Pharmacy Robbery, Maine 2015 · District of Columbia
- Isaiah Halliday, Armed Robbery, Connecticut 2017 · New York
- Keith Phillips, Bank Robbery, Maine 2018 · New Hampshire
- Clinton Damboise, Bank Robbery, Maine 2021 · Washington
Armed Pharmacy Robbery Rocks Windham, Maine Community
On March 23, 2013, at approximately 2:11pm, Derek Jackson, 38, approached the pharmacy counter of the Windham, Maine Hannaford and demanded a large amount of Dilaudid, a scheduled narcotic opioid pain medication commonly known in generic form as hydromorphone. The 250 hydromorphone pills he stole from the pharmacy were ingested by Jackson within an hour of committing the crime.
The brazen robbery left employees and customers shaken, and raised concerns about the ease with which prescription medications can be stolen and abused. Dilaudid, a powerful opioid, is commonly used to treat severe pain and is highly sought after on the black market.
According to court records, Jackson displayed a knife tucked in the waistband of his pants to pharmacy employees during the robbery. The Windham Police Department, the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation.
Derek Jackson, 38, was sentenced to two years in federal prison for robbing the Hannaford pharmacy in Windham, Maine. Jackson will be on federal supervised release for three years following his incarceration.
In imposing the sentence, Judge George Z. Singal took into account the fact that Jackson suffers from a chronic disease and was attempting to end his life by ingesting the drugs that he stole from the pharmacy. The judge’s sentence reflects a nuanced understanding of the complexities surrounding addiction and the need for treatment over punishment.
The investigation into the armed robbery serves as a reminder of the importance of community vigilance and cooperation in preventing and solving crimes. The Windham Police Department, the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation worked tirelessly to bring Jackson to justice.
Contact: Darcie N. McElwee, Assistant United States Attorney, can be reached at (207) 780-3257 for further information.
Key Facts
- State: Maine
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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