Don Grace, Heroin Conspiracy, Maine 2016

Heroin Trafficker Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison

Bangor, Maine - In a major blow to the opioid epidemic, Don Grace, 54, of Etna, Maine, was sentenced to 15 years in prison for conspiring to distribute heroin. The sentencing took place on Tuesday in U.S. District Court by Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr.

According to court records, between August 2015 and January 2016, Grace conspired to distribute over 100 grams of heroin. He and others obtained large quantities of heroin on a weekly basis from an out-of-state source and distributed it throughout Central Maine.

On January 25, 2016, agents arrested Grace and seized 3,300 bags of heroin from the vehicle in which he was traveling and 1,500 bags of heroin from his Etna residence.

This is not the first time Grace has been federally prosecuted for felony drug offenses. He had previously been prosecuted five times in 2004, 2007, and 2009 for violating the terms of his supervised release.

U.S. Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced the sentencing, stating that it is a significant step in combating the opioid epidemic. The case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance provided by the Maine State Police.

Grace's extensive history of drug-related offenses caught the attention of Judge Woodcock, who noted that he had never sentenced a defendant five times in his 13 years on the bench.

Grace's sentencing is a major victory in the fight against heroin trafficking in Maine. The U.S. Attorney's Office will continue to work tirelessly to bring those responsible for the opioid epidemic to justice.

Mandatory Facts: Don Grace, 54, was sentenced to 15 years in prison for conspiring to distribute heroin. He obtained over 100 grams of heroin between August 2015 and January 2016. Agents arrested him on January 25, 2016, and seized 3,300 bags of heroin from his vehicle and 1,500 bags from his residence. He was previously prosecuted five times for felony drug offenses.

Contact Information: For more information, contact Assistant United States Attorney Joel B. Casey at (207) 945-0373.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/pr/etna-man-sentenced-15-years-heroin-conspiracy