BANGOR, Maine — A father and son have been convicted for their roles in a large-scale marijuana distribution conspiracy that operated throughout western Maine and generated approximately $13 million.

Tuesday night, a federal jury of 12 people delivered guilty verdicts for the two men. Lucas Sirois, identified by prosecutors as the ringleader behind the operation, was found guilty on all charges he faced. His father, Robert Sirois, was convicted on one charge and cleared of another.

Among Sorois’ charges are conspiracy to distribute marijuana, conspiracy to defraud the United States and obstruct the IRS, bank fraud, and tax evasion.

The jury also found Robert Sirois guilty of conspiracy to distribute marijuana, but not guilty of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.

These verdicts mark the end of a broader federal investigation that led to charges against 13 individuals in 2021. Among them were a local selectman, an assistant district attorney, and two former Franklin County sheriff’s deputies—all of whom later pleaded guilty to felony offenses tied to the operation.

Throughout the four-day trial, prosecutors called several of the convicted individuals to testify, including former Rangeley selectman David Burgess and Sorois’ estranged wife, Alisa Sorois. Both witnesses described their involvement in the illegal operation, Burgess testifying that he managed the operation’s cash flow, sometimes holding $300,000 to $800,000 in cash at home. 

Prosecuting attorneys also called multiple DEA scientists and chemists to the stand, who verified the accuracy of the methods used to test multiple plant samples collected from one of Sirois’ grow houses.   

Refuting these claims, Lucas Sirois’s attorneys maintained he had been cultivating hemp, not marijuana. The Defense attorneys argued in court that the DEA’s testing was faulty and actually converted the hemp to marijuana due to the high heat used during sample analysis.

Jurors also convicted three related businesses owned by Sirois—Lakemont LLC, Sandy River Properties LLC, and Spruce Valley LLC—of maintaining drug-involved premises.

Following the verdict, Lucas Sirois was taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals Service to await sentencing. Robert Sirois will remain free on bond until his sentencing date.

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