A foreign national from the Ivory Coast is facing possible deportation from the United States after he was sentenced this week to just over four years in prison for the 2021 robbery of a convenience store in Maine.

Max Gbetibouo, 51, an Ivory Coast national who was living in Lewiston, was sentenced to 51 months in prison in a federal court in Portland on Wednesday for interference with commerce by robbery.

The Ivory Coast, also known as Côte d’Ivoire, is a country on the southern coast of West Africa.

While sentencing Gbetibouo, U.S. District Judge Nancy Torresen noted that as a foreign national, he would likely face deportation following incarceration.

In court records, federal prosecutors alleged that in September 2021, Gbetibouo entered a convenience store brandishing a multicolored 1911 pistol and demanded money from the register.

The store clerk complied, and Gbetibouo fled the store on foot. The robbery was captured by surveillance video.

Gbetibouo pleaded guilty to the federal charge in August 2024.

Previous press releases from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine described Gbetibouo as a “Lewiston man,” without reference to his immigration status or nationality.

The Saco Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Portland Police Department investigated the case.

Edward Tomic is a reporter for The Maine Wire based in Southern Maine. He grew up near Boston, Massachusetts and is a graduate of Boston University. He can be reached at tomic@themainewire.com

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He’s facing “ possible deportation “ ?
What are we waiting for .?
GET THIS LOW LIFE THE HELL OUT OF HERE ,
Why are we feeding this P.O.S . with my tax dollars ?
Enough is Enough .

Just one of thousands that the ACLU will try to defend.

Take the Governor with you!

““Lewiston man,” it is the soon to gone Bidden term of a non- American.

Now let us get the midday shooters of a year ago.

U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine described him as “a Lewiston man” This is unacceptable. We need to let President Trump know that we need a new U.S. Attorney for the Maine district who would have the courage to tell the truth! A foreign national from the Ivory Coast is NOT “a Lewiston man”..He is an “illegal person” allowed in our state by our governor, probably flown in under the cover of darkness!

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