Federal government seizes 2 Maine houses used as illegal marijuana grows

The federal government now owns two houses in Maine where marijuana was allegedly illegally grown.

The houses, located at 368 West Ridge Road in Cornville and 9 St. Albans Road in Corinna , were used during drug trafficking crimes and were forfeited to the government as a result of lawsuits filed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Federal Judge John Woodcock Jr. signed the decree of forfeiture Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Bangor.

Seizing the properties is the latest step in the federal government’s crackdown on illegal marijuana grow houses across the state. The Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office found more than 3,770 marijuana plants in rooms throughout the Corinna house when it executed a search warrant in February.

There may be more than 100 such illegal grow houses left in the state, the federal government said previously. Enforcement ramped up following a federal government memo, which leaked in August 2023, that said there were up to 270 large-scale illegal grows in Maine connected to Chinese organized crime, with profits being used to further crime in the U.S. or be sent back to China. These operations generate an estimated $4.37 billion in revenue.

The two properties will be sold, according to federal law. The proceeds are used by the Marshal Service to fund its forfeiture program, to compensate victims and to distribute to law enforcement agencies. Profits from specific forfeitures are transferred to state and local governments, but it’s unclear if Maine will receive money.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for Maine did not respond to a request for comment by time of publication.

A forfeiture request for 414 East Kennebec Road in Machias is pending. The government also wants to seize a house at 590 Hanson Road in China. That case is disputed by owner Xiao Liao and pending while there is an ongoing criminal case against Liao.

The government is looking to seize a house at 114 Upper Main St. in Norridgewock through civil forfeiture , which is owned by Jiamin Liao, 29, who is facing criminal charges related to illegal marijuana grows.

Another civil forfeiture request for 1052 Douty Hill Road in Sangerville is pending.