Oakland Man Sentenced for Credit Union Robbery

BANGOR, ME—United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced that Paul Garland, 27, of Oakland, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Bangor by Chief Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. to eight years’ imprisonment and five years of supervised release and was ordered to pay $9,147 in restitution for robbery of a credit union. Garland pled guilty to the charge on April 26, 2012.

Court records reveal that in June 2009, Garland robbed a teller at knife-point at the Taconnet Federal Credit Union in Skowhegan, Maine, obtaining $9,147. After the robbery, witnesses observed Garland flee from the credit union and leave the parking lot on the back of a motorcycle driven by Forrest T. “Teddy” Goodwin. Garland and Goodwin rode to Goodwin’s residence where they changed clothes and vehicles.

The investigation was conducted jointly by the Skowhegan Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

U.S. Border Patrol to Host First Law Enforcement Explorer Program in Maine

Houlton, Maine — The Customs and Border Protection U.S. Border Patrol, Fort Fairfield Station, has established a CBP Law Enforcement Explorer Program in Maine where agents will mentor and prepare young adults for future careers in leadership and law enforcement. U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents between the ages of 14 and 21, who are currently enrolled in either high school or college, should act now as there are a limited number of vacancies in the program.

The Law Enforcement Explorer Program is a Boy Scouts of America Learning for Life program in partnership with professional organizations to prepare young adults for certain professions, such as careers in law enforcement.

The hands-on program promotes self-confidence, responsibility, leadership and citizenship qualities to participants by modeling positive relationships between law enforcement and communities. Leading by example, CBP border patrol agents will assist law enforcement explorers in performing a wide variety of activities and community service projects throughout Maine.

Individuals interested in exploring a law enforcement career, promoting character development and acquiring skills in such areas as management, supervision, instruction, public speaking and community relations, are encouraged to contact Supervisory Border Patrol Agent John Krause at (207) 472-5041 or the Houlton Sector Public Affairs Office at (207) 532-6521 before July 13.

For more information on the CBP Law Enforcement Explorer Program, please visit the CBP web site.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.

French Citizen Causes Flight to Divert to Bangor

BANGOR, ME—United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty, II announced that yesterday, U.S. Airways flight 787 from Paris, France to Charlotte, North Carolina was diverted to Bangor International Airport because of a security issue regarding a passenger and what was reported as an implanted device of some kind.

Upon arrival in Bangor, Lucie Zeeko Marigot, a 41-year-old French citizen and native of Cameroon, was taken into custody by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). An investigation into charges of interference with the flight crew members and attendants continued throughout the night and this morning by the FBI.

The original detention was based upon probable cause that she interfered with the flight crew. She appeared in front of U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Margaret Kravchuk this afternoon.

United States Attorney Delahanty and Assistant United States Attorney James McCarthy informed the court that based on further investigation, a criminal complaint would not be filed against her. Instead, she will be taken into custody by United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to be returned to France.

United States Attorney Delahanty said that when the plane was over the Atlantic Ocean, it was the correct decision to divert the flight to Bangor, given the circumstances that were known at that time. Marigot had given a note to a flight attendant along with a book authored by her that details her personal story. Both the note and book were in French. The note sought help from President and Mrs. Obama and the American people. The note stated that she was “simply a victim of a group of doctors” and that she had “an object in her body that is out of [her] control.” When the flight attendant asked whether the object could hurt her or others, she replied that she did not know. An examination by two doctors on board determined that she had no visible scars indicating any kind of implant.

Upon arriving in Bangor, a search of the plane and baggage revealed no explosives or dangerous items. The continuing investigation revealed that the plane and its crew and passengers were never actually in danger at any time.

United States Attorney Delahanty praised the thorough investigation that was conducted by the FBI, CBP, the Transportation Security Administration, and the Bangor Police Department.

Maine Residents Complete Citizens Academy

3rd Class to Receive Certificates from Van Buren Station

Van Buren, Maine – Eighteen local citizens from the Fort Kent and Van Buren, Maine areas successfully completed the third Citizens Academy held by the CBP U.S. Border Patrol Van Buren Station on Thursday, May 10. Participants received classroom and hands-on instruction on the training and programs implemented by Border Patrol agents for successfully completing their mission.

The Citizens Academy consisted of local citizens and met every Thursday night from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. for a five-week period. The Academy informed the participants on the overall mission and function of the CBP U.S. Border Patrol and the Houlton Sector.

The Houlton Sector Citizens Academies are open to all citizens, 18 years of age and above, who are interested in learning about the Border Patrol’s history, legal authority, mission, operations and partnerships. Attendees received approximately 15 hours of instruction within a period of five weeks from Border Patrol agents and various guest speakers, including other federal and local law enforcement agencies. The hands-on instruction the participants received consisted of demonstrations and scenarios relating to policy and procedure, as well as utilizing some of the tools of the trade.

The Van Buren Station would like to thank all of the participants and guest speakers for making this academy another great success. Houlton Sector would also like to thank the Fort Kent town officials for allowing the Academy to be held at their facility. Thank you everyone and we look forward to hosting another Academy next year.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.

Maine Residents Complete Citizens Academy

3rd Class to Receive Certificates from Fort Fairfield Station

Ashland, Maine – Seven local citizens from the Ashland and Fort Fairfield, Maine areas successfully completed the third Citizens Academy held by the CBP U.S. Border Patrol Fort Fairfield Station on Saturday, May 12. Participants received classroom and hands-on instruction on the training and programs implemented by Border Patrol agents for successfully completing their mission.

The Citizens Academy consisted of local citizens and met every Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. for a three-week period. The Academy informed the participants on the overall mission and function of the CBP U.S. Border Patrol and the Houlton Sector.

The Houlton Sector Citizens Academies are open to all citizens, 18 years of age and above, who are interested in learning about the Border Patrol’s history, legal authority, mission, operations and partnerships. Attendees receive approximately 12 to 15 hours of instruction within a period of three to five weeks from Border Patrol agents and various guest speakers, including other federal and local law enforcement agencies. The hands on instructions the participants receive consist of demonstrations and scenarios relating to policy and procedure, as well as utilizing some of the tools of the trade.

The Fort Fairfield Station would like to thank all of the participants and guest speakers for making this academy another great success. Houlton Sector would also like to thank the employees of the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Ashland Regional Headquarters for allowing the Academy to be held at their facility. Thank you to everyone and we look forward to hosting another Academy next year.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.