A South Portland man is headed to the slammer after being caught dealing guns and drugs. Joshua Hopkins, 33, of South Portland, was sentenced to 60 months in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release, for his role in a gun and drug trafficking operation.
According to U.S. District Court records, investigators found Hopkins in April 2023 at a South Portland hotel, where he had an active state arrest warrant. A search of his backpack revealed multiple scales, a single round of 7.62 mm x 39 mm ammunition, a blender containing suspected fentanyl powder, smaller containers of additional suspected fentanyl powder, bags of suspected cocaine, and a substance used to ‘cut’ drugs.
Police also found a black Norinco SKS-style rifle in the vehicle, and the round of ammunition in the backpack matched the caliber of the rifle. Hopkins is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition due to prior felony convictions.
Hopkins pleaded guilty on February 21, 2024, and was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jon D. Levy. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, South Portland Police Department, Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
The charges against Hopkins include possession of a firearm by a prohibited person and possession of fentanyl and cocaine with intent to distribute. With the majority of violent crime now linked to gun trafficking, the Grimy Times will keep a close eye on these types of cases.
As part of his sentence, Hopkins will also serve four years of supervised release after his prison term. The investigation revealed a disturbing trend of drug dealers using firearms to further their operations, and the Grimy Times urges law enforcement to continue cracking down on these types of crimes.
Related Federal Cases
- South Portland Man Joshua Hopkins Sentenced to 5 Years for Gun, Fentanyl, Cocaine Trafficking · Maine
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- Greene Man Pleads Guilty to Drug and Gun Charges in Maine · Maine
Key Facts
- State: Maine
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime|Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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