BANGOR DAILY NEWS • May 6, 2021
The man convicted of masterminding the state’s most sophisticated pot farm using undocumented workers returned to federal prison Wednesday after a federal judge revoked his bail and refused to grant him a compassionate release due to health problems. Malcolm French, 59, of Enfield had been free on bail since April 1, 2020. He and codefendant Rodney Russell, 57, of Thomaston were released on $5,000 unsecured bail while their appeal was pending before the First U.S. District Court of Appeals in Boston. That appeal was rejected in October when French and Russell sought compassionate release due to health issues. The men were convicted by a jury in 2014 of running a Washington County marijuana operation in an unorganized township.