Toman Caudill, Gun Possession, Maine 2024

BANGOR, ME – Toman Caudill, 31, of Bangor, is headed to federal prison for three years after admitting to illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition. U.S. District Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. handed down the 36-month sentence today, followed by three years of supervised release, after Caudill pleaded guilty back in January.

The case stems from a September 2023 incident where Bangor Police responded to reports of gunfire in a residential area. Witnesses pointed officers to Caudill, who was found with a box of 9mm ammunition in his backpack. The situation escalated quickly when investigators learned Caudill had already fired a Ruger 9mm pistol, handing the weapon off to his fiancée as police approached.

According to court records, Caudill claimed he fired the gun during an altercation with another individual. The Ruger 9mm was recovered, along with the ammunition, and quickly became central evidence in the case. What sealed Caudill’s fate, however, wasn’t just the discharge of the weapon, but his prior criminal history.

Caudill is a prohibited person – meaning federal law bars him from owning or possessing firearms or ammunition due to multiple prior felony convictions. This isn’t a simple case of a first-time offender making a mistake; it’s a repeat offender knowingly breaking the law and putting the public at risk. The ATF took a keen interest in the case, assisting Bangor PD.

The investigation was a joint effort between the Bangor Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Assistant U.S. Attorney Ethan Plaut prosecuted the case, securing the conviction and the significant 36-month sentence. This conviction sends a clear message: illegally possessing a firearm, especially with a history of felony convictions, will not be tolerated in Maine.

The sentence serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by illegally possessed firearms and the commitment of federal and local law enforcement to remove those weapons – and the individuals carrying them – from Bangor’s streets. Residents can contact the ATF Boston Field Division with tips regarding illegal firearms activity.

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