Maine man indicted in THC-tainted ice cream sold in Newmarket

CONCORD - A Maine man was indicted in connection with tampering with consumer products in connection with THC-infused ice-cream that sickened several who unknowingly bought it at a Newmarket ice cream parlor.

Marc Flore, 43, was indicted on one count of tampering with consumer products.

According to the charging documents, Flore laced a batch of coffee-Oreo flavored ice cream with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a schedule I controlled drug, and stored the THC-laced ice cream with other batches of ice cream in a freezer at the Roots Café in Newmarket, where the ice cream was then sold to the public.

Flore allegedly stored the THC-laced ice cream with other batches of ice cream in a freezer at Roots Café between Sept. 19, 2022, and March 17, 2023, according to the indictment.

Several victims were sickened by the ice cream, but none suffered serious injury, officials said at the time.

The charge of tampering with consumer products provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

The Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations (FDA-OCI) led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Newmarket Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Ward is prosecuting the case.

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.