A New York man, Kenneth Adams, has pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Portland to charges of distributing controlled substances and possessing them with the intent to distribute. According to court records, information from a confidential informant revealed that Adams trafficked significant quantities of fentanyl and cocaine from the Bronx, New York, into Maine for sale to drug dealers.
In January 2024, Adams sold approximately 250 grams of fentanyl to a confidential informant during a controlled buy that was recorded on video and audio while being monitored by investigators. In June 2024, authorities executed a search warrant at a Bronx residence linked to Adams. During the search, they found a loaded 9mm Smith & Wesson handgun, about 260 grams of fentanyl, and roughly 780 grams of cocaine.
Adams has a previous conviction from 2016 in Aroostook County Superior Court for unlawful trafficking in scheduled drugs. He now faces potential imprisonment ranging from 10 years to life and could be fined up to $8 million. Additionally, he may be subject to four years to life of supervised release following his prison term.
The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations.