Yao Bin Cheng, a 63-year-old man originally from Brooklyn, New York, is currently at large after fleeing the United States and returning to China, according to reports from Somerset County Superior Court. Cheng was scheduled to stand trial in Skowhegan, Maine, on felony charges related to a 2024 illegal cannabis cultivation operation. The trial was called off on Monday, September 29, 2026, when Cheng failed to appear in court. His attorney, Darrick Banda, informed the court that a third party communicated that Cheng has no intention of returning to the U.S. Banda noted he had not spoken directly with his client since jury selection began on September 11. In response to the absence, Superior Court Chief Justice Robert E. Mullen issued a warrant for Cheng’s arrest with no bail allowed. The judge also ordered the default of the $10,000 cash bail Cheng had previously posted. Cheng faces charges of Class B unlawful trafficking of scheduled drugs and Class B marijuana cultivation. These charges stem from a March 1, 2024, raid by the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office and federal agents at a property on Waterville Road in Skowhegan. Investigators seized approximately 4,760 cannabis plants, along with cash and a vehicle, citing environmental violations and hazardous conditions. Cheng was one of three individuals arrested in connection with the bust. While co-defendant Xi Qiang Zhao pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor and Ying Xia Liao’s case remains pending, Cheng’s case was proceeding to trial. Kennebec and Somerset County District Attorney Maeghan Maloney expressed disappointment, noting the significant resources dedicated to the prosecution. The case is part of a broader crackdown on illegal grow houses in rural Maine that began in early 2024. Authorities are urging anyone with information regarding Cheng’s whereabouts to contact the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office or local law enforcement.