KENNEBUNK — A U.S. District Court Judge sentenced Portland resident Marcus Mello, 27, to 181 months in prison followed by four years of supervised release on Sept. 18 in connection with a drug-related death and firearms charges.
The case began on May 8, 2020, when Kennebunk Police Department and Kennebunk Fire Rescue responded to the unattended death of a 59-year-old female resident.
The death was suspected to be drug-related, prompting a joint investigation with the U.S.
Drug Enforcement Administration that pointed to Mello as the source of the drugs.
Mello was arrested in Portland with a federal warrant, at which time he was found in possession of approximately 400 fentanyl pills, a loaded firearm, and suspected drug proceeds.
Scheduled for trial on Oct. 16, 2023, Mello failed to appear in court and was subsequently declared a fugitive.
He was later apprehended by the U.S. Marshal’s Service and faced additional charges.
On Feb. 6, Mello pleaded guilty to the distribution of fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl, possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and bail jumping.
The Kennebunk Police Department and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration were credited for their collaborative work in investigating this case.
