Sanford Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Trafficking Conspiracy Resulting in Death

PORTLAND, Maine-A Sanford man pleaded guilty today in federal court to conspiracy to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl with death and serious bodily injury resulting, Acting U.S. Attorney Donald E. Clark announced.

According to court records, between August 2017 and April 2018, Scott Adams, 45, and other conspirators acquired fentanyl in Massachusetts for distribution in York County, Maine. Two people who obtained fentanyl distributed by members of the conspiracy died and another person suffered serious bodily injury.

On April 11, 2018, law enforcement officers seized about 150 grams of fentanyl from members of the conspiracy. An ensuing search of the defendant's residence resulted in the seizure of fentanyl, a digital scale, approximately $2,500 in U.S. currency, and a 'finger press' designed to compress fentanyl for further distribution.

As a result of the deaths and serious bodily injury, the defendant faces at least 20 years and up to life in prison and a fine of up to $5,000,000. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.

This case was investigated by the U.S Drug Enforcement Administration and the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, with assistance from the Biddeford and Sanford Police Departments.

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.