Maine Man Sentenced to Six Years for Robbing Two Pharmacies

A Mt. Vernon, Maine man was sentenced Tuesday in U.S. District Court to six years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release for committing two pharmacy robberies. 

United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced that Steven C. Chaput, 40, was also ordered to pay $726 in restitution.

On February 7, 2015, Chaput drove Rudger S. Ellis to the Rite Aid Pharmacy located on North Belfast Avenue in Augusta, Maine.  Ellis entered the pharmacy wearing a hooded gray sweatshirt, blue and white athletic pants, and gloves.  He had covered his face with a plaid cloth.  Ellis approached the counter and demanded that the pharmacist give him oxycodone, Oxycontin, and Ritalin.  He told the pharmacy employees to hurry up and said that he had a gun.  Ellis absconded with six bottles containing oxycodone.  Chaput was the lookout for Ellis and the getaway driver.

On February 18, 2015, Chaput drove Ellis to the Rite Aid Pharmacy located on Spring Street in Gardiner.  Ellis robbed that pharmacy again wearing a hooded sweatshirt and gloves and covering his face with a plaid cloth.  He approached the pharmacy counter and demanded oxycodone 30 milligram pills.  He repeatedly told pharmacy employees to “hurry” and several times commanded:  “now, now, now!”  Ellis absconded with 11 bottles of oxycodone.  Chaput was once again the lookout for Ellis and the getaway driver.

Ellis was sentenced on April 6, 2016, to five years in prison and three years of supervised release.

The investigation was conducted by the Augusta Police Department, the Gardiner Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.