Ethan Bubier, Fentanyl with Intent to Distribute, Maine 2023

A South Portland man is facing up to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to possessing fentanyl with intent to distribute in Maine. Ethan Bubier, 41, pleaded guilty to the charges in U.S. District Court in Portland.

According to court records, on August 2023, Scarborough Police officers encountered Bubier in a parked vehicle and observed drug paraphernalia and a knife on the seat. Officers searched the vehicle and found a backpack with several containers of suspected controlled substances, including 20 individual packets of fentanyl powder, a scale, and empty plastic bags.

Officers also found six additional packets of fentanyl as well as $1,662 in cash. In total, investigators recovered more than 264 grams of fentanyl. A later search of Bubier’s phone revealed messages documenting what appeared to be his large purchase of narcotics days before the seizure as well as messages from potential buyers.

Bubier faces up to 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $1 million followed by three years to life of supervised release. He 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 U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case with assistance from the Scarborough Police Department. The Maine Attorney General’s Office also assisted with the case.

The charges against Bubier carry significant penalties. If convicted, he faces a maximum of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million. He will also be required to serve three years to life of supervised release.

Bubier’s guilty plea marks a significant step in the investigation into his alleged fentanyl trafficking operation. The case serves as a reminder of the dangers of fentanyl and the importance of law enforcement’s efforts to combat its sale and distribution.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/pr/south-portland-man-pleads-guilty-possessing-fentanyl-intent-distribute