Two men who traveled from New York to Rangeley and attempted to steal drugs from a local dealer in a violent home invasion that left one of the attackers dead were found guilty Monday by a jury in the U.S. District Court in Bangor.
Andre Muller, also known as “Dre Muller,” 53, and Robert Holland, also known as “Kurt Holland,” 43, were convicted of conspiring to steal drugs from a Rangeley dealer in 2016.
Muller and Holland, along with three other men, came up with a plan to break into the home of Jordan Richard at 2564 Main St. in Rangeley and steal controlled substances, according to court records. On July 26, 2016, two of the conspirators armed with knives and a bat broke into Richard’s home.
During the attempted robbery, Richard fatally shot one of the men, Michael Brokun of Manhattan, who had been attempting to stab Richard, according to court documents. The other assailant, Hector Munoz, 56, of Florida, fled after being hit with a hammer by a neighbor who was drawn to the commotion. He was captured by federal agents, pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing.
Investigators at Richard’s house found a large quantity of cocaine, drug paraphernalia and a handgun.
Richard was arrested on drug and gun charges, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine, heroin, fentanyl and oxycodone, and discharging a firearm in relation to that conspiracy, and was sentenced in 2019 to 13 years and four months in prison on drug and gun charges.
Muller and Holland were previously convicted after a five-day jury trial in 2022 but were granted a new trial based on evidence of a partial juror.
With Monday’s conviction, Muller and Holland face up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
The conviction was under the Hobbs Act, which relates to the obstruction of interstate commerce. The act, according to a government trial brief in Muller and Holland’s case, applies even to illicit drug sales.
