Maine Man Sentenced To 24 Months For Firearms And Assault Crimes

          CONCORD - William Charles Pelletier, 36, of Andover, Maine, was sentenced to 24 months in prison for unlawful transportation of a firearm in interstate commerce and simple assault, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today. 

          According to court documents and statements made in court, on November 10, 2017, the defendant groped a passenger while aboard an airplane.  On March 13, 2018, the defendant was indicted in the Northern District of Georgia for felony abusive sexual contact for that conduct.  It is unlawful for a person who is under indictment for a felony to transport a firearm or ammunition in interstate commerce.  On November 25, 2018, while that charge remained pending and the defendant was on pretrial release, the defendant transported two firearms from Vermont to New Hampshire.

          Pelletier previously pleaded guilty on March 26, 2019, to charges related to both matters.  He pleaded guilty to simple assault to resolve the Georgia matter.

          The firearms have been forfeited to the United States.

          “The defendant’s conduct jeopardized public safety in multiple ways,” said U.S. Attorney Murray.  “First, he assaulted a fellow passenger on an airplane.  Then, although on pretrial release with charges pending, he illegally transported firearms across state lines. Mr. Pelletier’s actions clearly merited the prison sentence imposed by the judge today.”

          “Pelletier believed he could sexually assault a fellow passenger on a flight to Atlanta.  Behavior like this will not be tolerated by the FBI,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta.  “This sentence will hopefully send a message that this conduct is unacceptable, and anyone who chooses to act in this manner will be prosecuted.  Citizens deserve to feel protected from sexual assault and should not have to fear this happening to them while traveling.”

          This matter was investigated by the U.S. Border Patrol, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Krasinski.