Ryan Ellis, MDPV Conspiracy, ME, 2023

Bangor’s underground bath salt trade has been dealt a final blow as the last three defendants in a sprawling MDPV conspiracy were sentenced this week in U.S. District Court. Ryan Ellis, 37, formerly of Greenbush and Levant; Jacob Gagnon, 27, formerly of Bangor and Van Buren; and Jamie Ketchen, 43, also of Bangor, each faced justice for their roles in flooding Penobscot County with the synthetic stimulant known on the street as ‘monkey dust.’

Ellis, identified as the ringleader, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison after pleading guilty not only to conspiracy to distribute MDPV but also to possession of firearms in connection with a drug trafficking offense. Gagnon received six years and three months behind bars. Ketchen, who admitted to maintaining a drug-involved premises in addition to distribution charges, was hit with 13 years and four months—a punishment reflecting the severity of his operational role in the network.

Between April and December 2011, the trio and 13 co-defendants orchestrated a relentless flow of MDPV across northern and mid-coast Maine. Ellis imported bulk quantities of the psychoactive compound, funneling them to Gagnon and Ketchen, who then distributed to lower-level dealers in and around Bangor. The drug, falsely marketed as ‘bath salts,’ caused a spike in emergency room visits and violent behavioral episodes across the region during its peak circulation.

Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. handed down each sentence with a clear message: drug networks exploiting vulnerable communities will be met with maximum accountability. Each defendant was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release following their prison terms, with strict conditions barring contact with known criminals and mandatory drug testing.

This case marks the conclusion of a years-long investigation led by the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, with critical support from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and local law enforcement in Bangor, Old Town, Brewer, and Veazie. Sixteen total arrests have now resulted in convictions, dismantling what prosecutors called one of the most organized synthetic drug operations in the state’s recent history.

“This sentencing brings closure to a dark chapter in our community,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel B. Casey, who prosecuted the case. “These drugs don’t just ruin lives—they destabilize neighborhoods. We’re committed to ensuring those who profit from that destruction face serious time.” United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II confirmed the outcomes, underscoring the federal-state collaboration that made the takedown possible.