Saco Man Sentenced to 27 Months for Selling an Unregistered Explosive Device

Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Michael Rickett, 23, of Saco, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge D. Brock Hornby to 27 months in prison and three years of supervised release for selling an unregistered destructive device. Rickett pled guilty to the charge on February 21, 2019.

According to the government’s evidence, on July 10, 2017, concerned citizens reported to the Saco Police Department that Rickett asked them to purchase an explosive device.  The next day, a federal agent, acting in an undercover capacity, called Rickett.  Rickett offered to sell a “military grade IED” to the agent for $350.  Two days later, the agent purchased a homemade explosive device from Rickett.  A forensic laboratory examination confirmed that the device was an explosive bomb.

The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency; and the Portland and Saco Police Departments.