A Caribou man has been sentenced in Aroostook County Superior Court to 14 years in prison in connection with a string of criminal charges, including manufacturing methamphetamine. 

Maine Drug Enforcement Agency
Maine Drug Enforcement Agency
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The Maine Drug Enforcement Agency says 48-year-old Keith Tingley Jr. pleaded guilty to charges of manufacturing methamphetamine, unlawful furnishing in scheduled drugs, assault on a police officer and violation of conditions of release.

On Wednesday, Tingley was sentenced to 22 years in state prison with all but 14 years suspended, according to MDEA Regional Commander Peter Arno.

The Maine Warden Service arrested Tingley on February 1, 2014, after he was found to be in possession of several pills containing fentanyl.  The drug is estimated to be five to fifteen times more potent than heroin and is linked to a sharp increase in overdose deaths nationwide, Arno said.

On April 4, 2014, police from several agencies executed a search warrant at Tingley’s residence on the Old Washburn Road in Caribou.  Officers located significant evidence connected to a methamphetamine manufacturing operation in a crawl space under the mobile home.

Four days later, the MDEA charged Tingley with a class C violation of condition of release.  Arno said this charge was the result of a no contact condition with a co-defendant in the methamphetamine case, which Tingley violated.

The following month, while he was being held at the Aroostook County Jail, Tingley assaulted a corrections officer, which led to further charges.

In addition to serving a 14-year prison sentence, Tingley was ordered to serve 4 years of probation following his release.  He was also ordered to pay $4057 in restitution to the MDEA related to methamphetamine clean-up/disposal costs as well as a $400 fine.

This investigation was a cooperative effort by the Aroostook County Sheriff’s Office, the Maine Warden Service, Maine State Police, the Caribou Police Department, the Aroostook County DA’s Office and the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency.

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