Waterville Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Trafficking

BANGOR, Maine: A Waterville man pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Bangor today to possessing fentanyl with intent to distribute, U.S. Attorney Darcie N. McElwee announced.

According to court records, on October 15, 2021, officers with the Waterville Police Department arrested Patrick Hanson, 31, after receiving information that he had threatened another individual. After his arrest, Hanson was found to have a total of seven packages of suspected narcotics on his person or in his immediate possession, including one package that he had kicked under a door at the police station. In total, police seized approximately 43 grams of a mixture containing fentanyl. Hanson was convicted in 2013 for conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute oxycodone and 500 grams or more of cocaine.

Hanson faces up to 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $2 million. He also faces a minimum of six years and up to life of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The Waterville Police Department, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, and Kennebec County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.

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