Cambridge Pharmacy Robber Imprisoned 7 Years

The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that on September 29, 2014, Russell John Thaxton, 48, of Morrisville, was sentenced by United States District Judge J. Garvan Murtha to eighty-four months imprisonment on his guilty plea to a charge of pharmacy robbery. Judge Murtha also ordered Thaxton to serve two years on supervised release after his incarceration ends, and to pay restitution for the controlled substances he stole during the robbery.

According to court records, on August 29, 2013, Thaxton, Jennifer Stancliff, 30, of Morrisville, and Amanda Tetreault, 31, of Eden, traveled from Morrisville to Cambridge to rob the Kinney Drugs pharmacy. Shortly after entering the store, Thaxton pulled a black ski mask over his face, and approached the pharmacy counter. He brandished an airsoft gun, which had the appearance of a semi‑automatic pistol. Pointing the weapon at the pharmacist, Thaxton shouted that he wanted Aall your opiates and stimulants.@ The pharmacist complied with the demands, and defendant departed the store with 1,102 controlled substance pills with a wholesale value of more than $5,000. Thaxton joined his accomplices in a vehicle, and was arrested shortly thereafter by Vermont State Police (VSP). Lamoille County State=s Attorney Joel Page charged all three in state court. After further investigation by VSP and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), a federal grand jury indicted Thaxton and Stancliff for robbing the pharmacy. Stancliff is scheduled for sentencing on December 15, 2014. Tetreault entered a guilty plea to a related charge in state court.

United States Attorney Tristram J. Coffin commended the investigation by VSP and DEA, and thanked State=s Attorney Page for his cooperation. Coffin added, AThis office will continue to work closely with federal, state and local law enforcement to investigate and prosecute violent crimes, including robberies of pharmacies and other commercial establishments.@ Thaxton was represented by Assistant Federal Defender David McColgin. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig S. Nolan.