Martin sentenced to eight years for drug trafficking

     According to officials from the State of Maine District Attorney’s office, in Caribou, Justice E. Allen Hunter, on Thursday, Sept 10, in the Aroostook County Superior Court, (Caribou) sentenced Lynn Martin, 43, of Hamlin, to eight years at the Department of Corrections for her role in a methamphetamine distribution ring investigated by the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency and prosecuted by the Aroostook County District Attorney’s office.     Martin had previously plead not guilty and exercised her right to a jury trial in August, but was convicted after a jury rendered a guilty verdict on the single count of unlawful trafficking in scheduled drugs, a class B felony, after a one and one-half day trial. Assistant District Attorney Todd Collins represented the State during the prosecution and sentencing.
    MDEA agents, acting in an undercover capacity, began buying methamphetamine tablets from two retail dealers in the  Fort Fairfield area in 2008. After gaining the confidence of the suspects, an agent was taken to their supplier — Martin — who lives in Van Buren. While the agent was not allowed in the home, the other suspect went into the residence, returning with methamphetamine, which was sold to the agent. Martin was later arrested but refused to admit her involvement in the crime.
    Martin, who did not have any prior criminal convictions, will spend the next five years, less earned, “good time,” at the Maine State Prison. Justice Hunter suspended three years of Martin’s sentence and placed her on probation for three years after her release from prison. Justice Hunter also imposed a $5,000 fine on the drug trafficking charge.
    Assistant District Attorney Collins asked the Court to impose a significant sentence to discourage others who might otherwise be tempted to follow in Martin’s footsteps as a drug dealer.
    In announcing the sentence, Justice Hunter, declared that the eight-year prison sentence and $5,000 fine should serve, “fair warning,” of the harsh criminal consequences to those who would seek to engage in illegal trafficking of drugs in Aroostook  County.
    MDEA has been investigating widespread distribution of methamphetamine tablets for about four years. All of these tablets are believed to be manufactured in Canada and smuggled into Maine. The tablets look a lot like Ecstasy (MDMA) tablets and are often referred to as Yaba.
    Anyone with information regarding illegal drug use and trafficking of illicit drugs in Aroostook  County  is encouraged to speak with an MDEA Agent.
    Information can be provided confidentially at 532-5169 or at www.maine.gov/dps/mdea/