October 26, 2007
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SEEKS FORFEITURE OF
FRATERNITY HOUSE IN BURLINGTON
The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated today that it has filed a civil complaint seeking forfeiture of the Lambda Iota Society fraternity house at 440 Pearl Street in Burlington. The United States’ forfeiture complaint, supported by a judicial finding of probable cause to believe the property is subject to forfeiture, is based on significant cocaine trafficking that occurred at the Lambda Iota fraternity house between Spring 2006 and late April 2007. The fraternity house is thus subject to forfeiture pursuant to 21 U.S.C. § 881(a)(7) as real property used to commit or facilitate the commission of a drug crime, namely, illegally storing and distributing a controlled substance.
According to Court records, an investigation by the Burlington Police Department, led by Detective Andrew Frisbie, revealed that several members of the Lambda Iota fraternity, as well as the house manager of the fraternity, regularly sold cocaine out of the fraternity house. Some of their customers were members of the Lambda Iota Society Board of Governors, which is made up of alumnus of the fraternity.
Court records also show that on April 27, 2007, Burlington Police executed a search warrant at the fraternity and arrested two fraternity members (and students at the University of Vermont), for drug distribution. A third individual, who was the source of supply for the cocaine, was also arrested. According to the affidavit supporting the complaint, this individual brought multiple kilograms of cocaine into the City of Burlington from various out-of-state sources. A significant portion of that cocaine was sold through the Lambda Iota fraternity. Another conspirator, Allen Page, 28, of New Haven, CT is under federal indictment in Vermont for conspiracy to distribute in excess of 500 grams of cocaine and for conspiracy to distribute oxycontin.
United States Attorney Thomas D. Anderson commended the work of the Burlington Police Department in the investigation of this matter and its support in this forfeiture action. “As this case demonstrates, individuals or organizations that allow drugs to be sold from their premises risk forfeiture of their property to the United States,” said Anderson. “Premises, including fraternity houses, that are used to store and sell illegal drugs cause irreparable harm to our neighborhoods, pose an unacceptable threat to people living in those neighborhoods, and will be shut down,” commented Anderson.
“Drug traffickers greatly diminish the quality of life in our community and pose a significant risk to our citizens,” stated Burlington Police Chief Thomas R. Tremblay. “By removing and forfeiting properties used by these drug traffickers as their base of operation, we reduce the threats to and increase the safety of our city and its citizens,” said Tremblay.
Assistant United States Attorney Carol L. Shea, Chief of the Civil Division, is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States.
