Lewiston Man Sentenced to 4+ Years for Armed Robbery of Saco Convenience Store

Press Release

Max Gbetibouo brandished a firearm while demanding cash from the store clerk

PORTLAND, Maine: A Lewiston man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for interference with commerce by robbery.

U.S. District Judge Nancy Torresen sentenced Max Gbetibouo, 51, to 51 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. While sentencing Gbetibouo, the judge noted that as an Ivory Coast National, he would likely face deportation following incarceration. Gbetibouo was also ordered to pay restitution to the victim. He pleaded guilty on August 13, 2024.

According to court records, in September 2021, Gbetibouo entered a Saco convenience store brandishing a weapon and demanded money from the register. The store clerk complied, and Gbetibouo fled the store on foot. The robbery was captured on surveillance video.

The Saco Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Portland Police Department investigated the case.

Project Safe Neighborhoods: This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psn.

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Updated January 15, 2025