Another defendant has admitted in court to being part of a drug ring that distributed large quantities of Bath Salts in three Maine counties.

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The U. S. Attorney's Office says that 33-year-old Ryan Ellis, formerly of Greenbush, pleaded guilty Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Bangor to conspiracy to distribute the synthetic drug and to possession of firearms in relation to a drug trafficking offense. Ellis is one of 14 defendants charged with distributing large quantities of Bath Salts in Penobscot, Aroostook and Knox counties between April and December 2011.

According to court records, Ellis obtained the drugs from other conspirators, processed and repackaged it, and distributed it to other conspirators for sale to drug addicts.  On November 22, 2011, he was found to be in possession of two handguns and a shotgun and nearly 400 grams of MDPV (Bath Salts).

Ellis faces up to 20 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine on the drug charge.  On the firearms count, he faces a mandatory minimum of five years in prison which must be served consecutive to the drug sentence and a $250,000 fine.

Penobscot County Jail
Penobscot County Jail
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Ten co-defendants previously pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charge and await sentencing.

They are: Elizabeth Mikotowicz, Steven Orosco, Alan Ketchen,  Daniel Hines, Adam Hathorn, and Tina Keaton,  all of Bangor; Jessica Bryden, of Greenbush; Matthew and Michael Tardiff, of Old Town, and Gina Nelson, of Bradley, Maine.

The case was investigated by the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency with assistance from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Brewer and Bangor Police Departments.

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