Gardiner Man Sentenced to Five Years for Robbing Two Pharmacies

Contact: F. Todd Lowell
Assistant United States Attorney
Tel: (207) 945-0373

Bangor, Maine:  United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced that Rudger S. Ellis, 23, of Gardiner, Maine was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. to five years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release for committing two pharmacy robberies.  He was also ordered to pay a $1,000 fine and $726 in restitution.   

On February 7, 2015, Ellis entered the Rite Aid Pharmacy located on North Belfast Avenue in Augusta, Maine, wearing a hooded gray sweatshirt, blue and white athletic pants, and gloves and covering his face with a plaid cloth.  Ellis approached the counter and demanded that the pharmacist give him oxycodone, Oxycontin, and Ritalin.  He told the pharmacy employees to hurry up and said that he had a gun.  Ellis absconded with six bottles containing oxycodone. 

On February 18, 2015, Ellis robbed the Rite Aid Pharmacy located on Spring Street in Gardiner, again wearing a hooded sweatshirt and gloves and covering his face with a plaid cloth.  He approached the pharmacy counter and demanded oxycodone 30 milligram pills.  He repeatedly told pharmacy employees to “hurry” and several times commanded: “now, now, now!” Ellis absconded with 11 bottles of oxycodone. 
 
Steven C. Chaput committed the robberies with Ellis.  He has pled guilty and awaits sentencing.

The investigation was conducted by the Augusta and Gardiner Police Departments and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.