Maine Woman Sentenced to 42 Months for Possession of Drugs with the Intent to Distribute

Acting United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Arica Marie Downs, 36, of Rumford, Maine, was sentenced today in Lincoln, Nebraska, by Senior United States District Judge John M. Gerrard to 42 months’ imprisonment for possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute. After her release from prison, Downs will begin a four-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Downs pleaded guilty to her offense on March 7, 2023.

On March 9, 2022, Downs and Judith Ann Deandrade were traveling east on Interstate 80 in a rental car when they were stopped by a Lancaster County Deputy Sheriff for following a semitruck at too close of a distance. During the traffic stop, a police canine was walked around the exterior of the car and alerted to the odor of drugs emanating from the vehicle. The deputy then searched the vehicle. In the area near where the two women had been seated, the deputy located syringes, small baggies, and about a half-ounce of fentanyl. When the deputy searched the trunk, he located approximately 18.5 pounds of methamphetamine. Both were arrested. Law enforcement learned that Deandrade arranged the trip from Boston to Las Vegas to pickup up the methamphetamine, and that Deandrade offered Downs a pound of methamphetamine to accompany her on the trip.

Deandrade died in custody on April 21, 2022, while this case was pending.

The investigation was conducted by the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office and the Seward County Sheriff’s Office.