Maine man pleads guilty to trafficking 30 pounds of meth

CONCORD - A Maine man pleaded guilty on Monday in federal court in Concord in connection to trafficking around 14 kilograms (30 pounds) of methamphetamine.

Brian Strout, 46, of Turner, Maine, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, namely methamphetamine, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorneys Office. The judge scheduled sentencing for May 6.

The defendant and his co-defendant, his wife, Tara Christian, were charged by indictment on Aug. 1, 2022. Christian pleaded guilty to similar charges on Dec. 7.

On July 7, 2022, investigators received information that Strout and Christian were obtaining a supply of methamphetamine while at a casino in Everett, Mass. Investigators subsequently conducted surveillance at the casino and located Strout and Christian loading bags into their vehicle and driving north toward New Hampshire on Interstate 93.

When investigators stopped the vehicle, the defendants were found with 2.7 kilograms of methamphetamine in the vehicle. Further investigation revealed that a FedEx package containing even more methamphetamine was enroute to the defendants in Maine, officials said. Agents located and searched the package and seized an additional 11.2 kilograms of pure methamphetamine.

The charging statute provides for a maximum sentence of life in prison, at least five years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $10,000,000.