Man faces prison on firearms charge after threatening insurance inspector

BANGOR, Maine - A Springfield man pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Bangor on Tuesday to unlawfully possessing a firearm.

According to court records, in February 2024, a deputy from the Penobscot County Sheriff's Office responded to a report that a home inspector from an insurance company had been threatened with a firearm by James Elliott, 66. During a search of Elliott's home in March 2024, deputies found six firearms, including a loaded .44 magnum lever action rifle, according to a statement from Maine U.S. Attorneys Office. Elliott is precluded from possessing firearms due to two prior felony convictions in the state of Kansas.

Elliott faces up to 15 years in federal prison and a maximum fine of $250,000 to be followed by up to three years of supervised release. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.