Maine
Texas man pleads guilty to stealing $400K from vacationing Maine couple
A Texas man has pleaded guilty to stealing nearly $400,000 from a Maine couple while they were on vacation.
Kyle Lawless Pollar, 27, entered his plea to four counts of wire fraud Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Bangor, according to the U.S. attorney’s office.
In August 2022, Pollar called the couple’s bank pretending to be the account holder and requested the account’s balance and updated the contact phone number, the U.S. attorney’s office said Tuesday. Shortly after, Pollar changed the contact email address as well.
Over a two-week period, Pollar made several transfers from the couple’s home equity line of credit to their savings account. Pollar then made four wire transfers totalling $360,880 to a Texas bank account in his name, according to the U.S. attorney’s office.
Pollar transferred $66,000 from one transfer to a jeweler, also in Texas.
The U.S. attorney’s office said that Pollar withdrew funds from his account in cash and cashier’s checks. He then deposited the cashier’s checks in other Texas bank accounts in his name.
He was captured on security camera making deposits and withdrawals, according to the U.S. attorney’s office.
The couple discovered the theft when they returned from vacation and couldn’t log into their bank account. When the bank reset their username and password, they found multiple wire transfers on their statement.
The FBI began investigating in October 2022.
Pollar faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine up to $250,000 for each of the four counts of wire fraud, as well as up to three years of supervised release. He also will be ordered to pay restitution to the victims.
Maine
Immigrant rights coalition reports uptick in ICE detentions across Maine
The Maine Immigrants’ Rights Coalition says over the past two weeks its immigrant defense hotline has seen an uptick in reported ICE detentions.
They say this corresponds with a national shift in ICE activity, including bids for local businesses to cooperate with ICE.
In Maine, the arrests follow a broader trend of targeting Black and brown immigrants, including people navigating immigration proceedings.
The coalition, which represents more than 100 organizations, says it’s ready to protect civil and human rights and is urging immigrants to prepare themselves and their families.
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They suggest having the defense hotline ready in case you witness ICE activity, making sure you have important personal documents in case of detention, and reviewing rights around judicial warrants in private spaces, like your home or workplace.
Maine
How a data center derailed $240,000 for affordable housing in Wiscasset
Maine
Mother’s Day brings boom in flower sales across Maine
It wouldn’t be Mother’s Day without a stop at the florist.
According to Fox Business, about 154 million flowers are sold during the week of Mother’s Day. So it’s safe to say it was a busy day for stores like Estabrook’s Maine Garden Center and Nursery.
Plenty of families stopped by to pick out flowers on Sunday, looking to choose the perfect bouquet for their moms.
“I think Mother’s Day is tradition, you know, and so it’s great to see families here. We have a lot of new families that have come today for the first time with their young children and their mother. Watching the young kids and seeing how excited they are—their eyes light up at all the beautiful flowers,” Tom Estabrook, president of Estabrook’s, said.
Estabrook says Mother’s Day tends to be a great kickoff to the spring season.
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