PORTLAND — A Greene man charged last year in a federal drug raid in the Twin Cities was in court Wednesday for a detention hearing on a new charge of lying while buying a shotgun at Walmart and a revocation hearing from last year’s charge.

Daniel Poland III, 65, had been free since he entered a not guilty plea in the federal gun raid case in November 2018.

He was charged earlier this month in a federal complaint with making a false statement in connection with acquiring a firearm. The felony is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

In the complaint, a federal agent wrote that Poland was at Walmart in Farmington on Feb. 6 to purchase a Hatfield model 12-gauge shotgun. On a federal form that asked whether he was under indictment in any court for a felony, Poland answered “No,” the complaint says.

In fact, Poland was charged with two felonies in a 41-count indictment in October 2018 with making false statements to the Internal Revenue Service in May and July 2018.

His son, Tyler Poland, also was named in the indictment on charges of possession with intent to distribute MDMA, commonly known as ecstasy, and possession with intent to distribute marijuana. Tyler Poland of TY Properties, LLC, was also indicted on money laundering charges involving a cash payment of $200,000 made to an unnamed person and company using money from drug proceeds, according to the indictment.

Tyler Poland was charged with making illegal money transactions by depositing cash from drug proceeds totaling $50,000 in a local bank account. He also was charged with destruction or removal of property to prevent search or seizure by transferring $220,000 from a TD Bank account in the name of TY Construction, LLC to a different bank account held in the name of his father, Daniel, according to the indictment.

On Wednesday, a judge in U.S. District Court held hearings on whether the elder Poland’s original bail should be revoked. The hearing also entailed what conditions, if any, would be appropriate if he was released.

Daniel Poland appeared in a wheelchair, his right arm in a sling. He had been held without bail since his Feb. 15 arrest. At a hearing that lasted most of the day, U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge John H. Rich III heard testimony regarding Poland’s health and medical conditions that may have affected how he answered the question about whether he was under indictment on the form.

Poland’s attorney. David J. Bobrow, emphasized that there was no evidence that Poland was attempting to purchase a weapon to harm anyone and that he doesn’t pose a danger to anyone or to the community.

The Department of Probation and prosecutors opposed his release.

The court ordered Poland released on $10,000 unsecured bail to home detention in the custody of his wife, Vicky. He will be electronically monitored and will only be allowed to leave his home for legal counseling, medical appointments or with permission from his probation officer.

Bail conditions include no possession of firearms. He also must surrender his passport.

A federal grand jury has handed up a 41-count indictment against more than a dozen suspects — largely from Lewiston and Auburn — stemming from federal raids in the Twin Cities area in February 2018, which was the basis for the original charge for Daniel Poland and his son.

The aim of the raids was to bust a medical marijuana-growing operation that illegally sold surplus pot and derivatives, according to police and federal drug agents.

Prosecutors alleged the drug-trafficking organization grew and distributed large amounts of marijuana under the cover of Maine’s medical marijuana program, but sold marijuana to buyers who were not participants in the program and included out-of-state customers.

cwilliams@sunjournal.com

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