BANGOR, Maine — A New York woman faces up to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to running an illegal marijuana operation in Maine, federal authorities said.
Jiamin Liao, 30, of New York City, admitted Monday in U.S. District Court in Bangor to maintaining a premises involved in marijuana cultivation and distribution.
Court records indicate Liao purchased a home in Madison, Maine, to grow marijuana. In March 2024, authorities searched both her Madison property and a related property in Norridgewock, discovering 551 marijuana plants, chemicals, and grow equipment at the Madison site.
At the Norridgewock property, investigators reportedly found approximately 30 pounds of processed marijuana. Liao admitted she cultivated the marijuana at Madison, packaged it into one-pound bags, and stored it in Norridgewock.
Neither property nor Liao was licensed through the Maine Office of Cannabis Policy, making the operation illegal.
If convicted, Liao faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a maximum fine of $500,000. Sentencing is scheduled for a later date.
