A South Portland man is facing up to 55 years in prison after pleading guilty to gun and drug trafficking charges.
Joshua Hopkins, 33, of South Portland, pleaded guilty Friday in U.S. District Court in Portland to possession of a firearm by a prohibited person and possession of fentanyl and cocaine with intent to distribute.
According to court records, Hopkins was found by police at a South Portland hotel in April 2023 with an active state arrest warrant.
A search of Hopkins’ backpack revealed multiple scales, a single round of 7.62 mm x 39 mm ammunition, a blender that contained suspected fentanyl powder, smaller containers of suspected fentanyl powder, bags of suspected cocaine, and what appeared to be a substance used to “cut” drugs, records state.
Officers were told by a man with Hopkins that Hopkins had supplied him with drugs and that he had a rifle in his car, according to federal prosecutors.
Law enforcement found a black Norinco SKS-style rifle in the vehicle with a caliber that matched the round of ammunition they found in Hopkins’ backpack, federal prosecutors said.
Hopkins is prohibited from possessing firearms due to prior felony convictions.
He faces up to 15 years in prison on the gun charge, and from five to a maximum of 40 years on the drug charges — with maximum fines of $250,000 and $5 million respectively.
So 55yrs for the charges, okay, but, then why are illegal communists that are growing illegal dope let out with mere pittance for bail all over the state?? Illegal is a felony, illegal dope at that level is a felony, seems that they should be held not released! Now another question, why aren’t the chinese owners of these properties being apprehended? They can claim anything they want they are complicit in the crimes.