A Blue Hill resident has admitted in federal court to making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm. Caleb Rhine, 22, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Bangor.
Court records show that Rhine was indicted on June 8, 2023, in Hancock County Superior Court for aggravated trafficking in scheduled drugs. Despite this indictment, Rhine attempted to buy a firearm from a federally licensed dealer in Ellsworth on May 5, 2024. To complete the transaction, he filled out an ATF Form 4473 and falsely answered “No” to the question about being under indictment for a felony or other serious crime. Based on his answers on the form, Rhine was able to purchase the gun several days later.
Rhine could face up to ten years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release. Sentencing will occur after a presentence investigative report is completed by the U.S. Probation Office. The final sentence will be determined by a federal district court judge who will consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other legal factors.
The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office.
This case falls under Operation Take Back America, an initiative by the Department of Justice aimed at combating illegal immigration and organized crime while protecting communities from violent offenders by coordinating resources through programs such as OCDETFs and Project Safe Neighborhood.
