Former Operator of Waterville Medical Marijuana Business Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug and Firearms Offenses

 BANGOR, Maine:  A Benton man pleaded guilty today in federal court to distribution of cocaine and marijuana, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and possession of firearms by an unlawful user of controlled substances, U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced.

According to court records, on January 29, 2020, Daniel Hall, 32, distributed cocaine and marijuana to a confidential informant at Green Thumb Organics (GTO), Hall’s Waterville medical marijuana store. The informant did not have a medical marijuana patient card.

On February 19, 2020, investigators executed federal search warrants at GTO and Hall’s residence in Benton. At GTO, agents seized approximately three pounds of processed marijuana and “edible” marijuana items that in total weighed less than 50 kilograms. Agents also seized records, approximately $16,000 in cash proceeds, a video surveillance system and items of paraphernalia. At Hall’s residence, agents seized personal use quantities of drugs, drug paraphernalia, a handgun, two shotguns and ammunition.

Hall faces up to 20 years in prison, between three years and life on supervised release and a $1 million fine on the drug distribution charge. He faces up to five years imprisonment, two years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine on the drug possession charge. He faces up to 10 years imprisonment, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine on the firearms charge. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Waterville Police Department and the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.