RANGELEY – A New Vineyard man that fatally shot an intruder two years ago at a residence on Main Street has plead guilty to two federal charges Friday, as part of an arranged sentence.
Jordan Richard, 24 of New Vineyard, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, a Class C felony, and discharge of a firearm during and in relation to and in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, a Class A felony. The plea was made by agreement in the United States District Court in Bangor on Friday, with Richard waiving indictment.
According to a court document detailing the U.S. Attorneys’ version of events, Richard participated in a conspiracy operating within the state between Jan. 1, 2016 and Sept. 20, 2017 distributed cocaine, heroin, fentanyl and oxycodone. Richard would obtain the drugs from an out-of-state supplier and bring them to his then-residence in Rangeley, where the drugs would be weighed and packaged for resale. Sales were made out of the Rangeley residence, the prosecution believed, with money and drugs stored within.
On July 28, 2016, two men arrived at the Rangeley residence. Richard and a yet-unidentified drug distribution co-conspirator were in the living room and when Richard went to the door, the men forced themselves inside. Both men had knives, according to the court document.
While the first intruder forced the co-conspirator to the living room floor, holding a knife on him and asking “where is it?”, the second intruder chased Richard into the back of the house and the two began to fight. This continued until a neighbor, drawn by the disturbance, came to the door. The first intruder left the the living room went to the door. The co-conspirator that had previously been held at knifepoint fled out the back of the residence, past the still-fighting Richard and second intruder.
When the co-conspirator returned, he found Richard had been stabbed and was bleeding. The second intruder had been shot and was dead. He was identified by Maine State Police as Michael Bokun, 29 of Manhattan, N.Y. It was later determined that he had been shot twice by a Beretta, model BU9 Nano, 9-millimeter handgun.
The first intruder fled the scene on foot after being struck by a hammer in the head by a neighbor who was attempting to get him to stop an assault upon Richard. U.S. Border Patrol agents located that man a short distance away. He was later identified as Hector Munoz, 48, of New York City, N.Y. and was arrested on a probation violation.
The co-conspirator was given bags of cocaine and oxycodone tablets from a safe by Richard and told to get them out of the house. Eventually, after a search warrant was executed by law enforcement, investigators discovered significant evidence of drug trafficking in the residence, including scales, drug ledgers, packaging materials and a safe that contained more cocaine and a little more than $20,000 in cash.
After the July 2016 shooting incident, the prosecution alleges that Richard moved to a New Vineyard residence and, after a period of inactivity, continued to engage in trafficking. In spring and fall of 2017, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration used confidential sources to purchase cocaine, heroin and fentanyl from Richard. Law enforcement executed a search warrant on Sept. 20, 2017, finding evidence of trafficking, including oxycodone tablets.
The conspiracy charge relates to Richard’s trafficking activity in northern Franklin County. The gun charge relates to the shooting incident.
As part of the arranged plea, Richard will be sentenced to up to 20 years and pay up to a $1 million fine on conspiracy charge, with a consecutive sentence of no less than 10 years, up to life in prison, on the gun charge. That gun charge will also include a maximum fine of $250,000 and up to five years of probation.
An order of forfeiture has also filed in federal court, relating to the cash taken from the Rangeley residence and the Beretta handgun.
In addition to the U.S. DEA, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives, the Maine State Police, the Maine Office of the Attorney General and the Rangeley Police Department were involved in the investigation.
How on earth is he going to pay $1 million plus in fines while he is sitting in jail?
Just sayin’, it says pay up to, not, will pay. It’s a plea deal, the judge has final say. And the 8th amendment will come into play.
What will be the total length of jail time? 20 years?
OK Hrtlss Bstrd……How on earth will he pay up to $1 million plus dollars in fines while sitting in jail????