Biddeford Man Pleads Guilty in Marshals Shooting Case

PORTLAND, ME—United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty, II announced today that Arien L’Italien, age 22, of Biddeford, Maine, pleaded guilty today to charges arising out of a shooting incident involving United States Marshals that occurred on January 27, 2012. At a hearing this afternoon before United States District Judge Nancy Torresen, L’Italien waived his right to proceed by indictment and entered a guilty plea to a three-count information.

The information charges L’Italien with assault on a federal officer with a dangerous weapon, with being a felon in possession of a firearm, and with using a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. According to court documents, L’Italien fired four shots from a handgun as a team of United States marshals attempted to arrest him on Mellen Street in Portland on the evening of January 27, 2012. The marshals returned fire, wounding L’Italien in the leg.

L’Italien faces a maximum prison term of 20 years on the assault charge; a maximum prison term of 10 years on the felon in possession charge; and a minimum prison term of 10 years on the charge of using a firearm, which must be consecutive to any sentence on the other charges. He also faces a fine of not more than $250,000. A sentencing date has not been set. L’Italien will remain detained pending sentencing.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Portland Police Department, and the United States Marshals Service.