Bradley and Old Town Residents Plead Guilty to Bath Salt Distribution Conspiracy

Contact: Joel B. Casey
Assistant United States Attorney
Tel: (207) 945-0373

Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced that Gina
Nelson, 31, of Bradley, Maine and Michael Tardiff, a/k/a “Bub”, 54, of Old Town, Maine
pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Bangor to conspiracy to possess with the intent to
distribute and to distribute MDPV, a chemical compound commonly referred to as “bath salts” or
“monkey dust”.

According to court records, the members of the conspiracy illegally distributed MDPV in
Penobscot County and elsewhere between April and December 2011. The defendants obtained
MDPV from other members of the conspiracy and traded, sold or otherwise distributed it using
cellular telephones and other means of communication.

The defendants face up to 20 years in prison, a $1,000,000 fine, or both. They will be
sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.

The defendants are two of fourteen defendants charged by indictment as part of the
conspiracy. An indictment is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed to be innocent
until proven guilty in a court of law.

Co-defendants Elizabeth Mikotowicz, a/k/a “Beth,” Steven Orosco, a/k/a “Pablo,” Alan
Alan Ketchen, a/k/a “AJ,” Daniel Hines, Adam Hathorn, and Tina Keaton, a/k/a “Fumble,” all of
Bangor; Jessica Bryden, of Greenbush, Maine; and Matthew Tardiff, of Old Town, Maine;
previously pled guilty to the conspiracy charge and await sentencing.

The case was investigated by the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency with assistance from
the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bangor Police Department.