Auburn man gets 8 years for selling heroin

A federal judge sentenced an Auburn man Wednesday to eight years in prison for distributing heroin.

Darnell “Butta” Robinson, 30, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Portland by U.S. District Judge Nancy Torresen. He will be on probation for three years following serving his sentence.

Robinson pleaded guilty on Jan. 12.

According to court records, a confidential source working with federal agents bought $1,000 worth of heroin from Robinson in Auburn on April 27, 2016. The confidential source was wearing an electronic recording device and had been given $1,200 recorded bills by agents to make the purchase, according to prosecutors. The additional $200 was provided to pay a debt.

Agents witnessed the confidential source meet Robinson at the entrance to an Auburn apartment building.

A female in the apartment retrieved a coffee can that contained the heroin, according to prosecutors.

After the purchase, the confidential source turned over to drug agents the heroin bought from Robinson. The net weight was just under 10 grams.

Investigating the case were the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Maine State Police, Lewiston and Auburn police departments and the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, according to a written release from acting U.S. Attorney Richard W. Murphy.