Rumford man pleads guilty to illegally possessing firearm (DOJ)

PORTLAND, Maine: A Rumford man pleaded guilty on September 9, 2026, in U.S. District Court in Portland to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to court records, in May 2025, the Lewiston Police Department received multiple reports of gunshots. Callers reported a male had been shooting a firearm and then entered a dark-colored vehicle parked on the street. Upon arrival, police encountered Troy Blanchard, 37, seated in the driver's seat of a black vehicle. A standoff ensued with Blanchard ignoring police commands to exit the vehicle. Police were eventually able to remove Blanchard from the vehicle after firing pepper balls through the rear window. Police subsequently located a Kel-Tec .22 caliber pistol on the passenger seat next to Blanchard. At the time of his arrest, Blanchard was prohibited from possessing firearms due to multiple prior felony convictions.

Blanchard faces up to 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case with the assistance of the Lewiston Police Department.

Operation Take Back America: This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department's Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

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Contact

Peter I. Brostowin, Assistant United States Attorney (Tel: 207-780-3257)

Updated September 10, 2026