June 2, 2008

CRACK DEALERS ARRESTED IN RUTLAND

The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that Leon Keith Cromer, 23, and Sylvester Cassian Emanus, 21, both of Brooklyn, New York have been charged in United States District Court in Vermont with possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine.

According to a criminal complaint filed in court, agents from the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) obtained information during the Operation Marble Valley arrests on May 28, 2008, that two men were selling crack cocaine from a motel room in the City of Rutland. That afternoon agents went to the motel and identified the room in which the suspects were staying. After knocking on the door of that room and speaking to one of the occupants, agents entered the motel room and found Cromer and Emanus. Emanus was in the process of flushing down the toilet items that appeared to be baggies of crack cocaine. An agent retrieved one of the baggies, whose contents appeared consistent with crack cocaine and later field tested positive for presence of cocaine. Cromer and Emanus were then arrested.

Both men appeared in federal court in Burlington on May 29, 2008 and were ordered released on personal recognizance pending resolution of their cases.

If convicted of the offense charged in the criminal complaint, Cromer and Emanus face up to 20 years imprisonment and a fine of up to $1,000,000. The actual sentence in the event of conviction would be determined by the court with reference to the advisory federal sentencing guidelines. United States Attorney Anderson emphasized that Cromer and Emanus are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.

U.S. Attorney Anderson commended the work of both DEA and ATF on this matter. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy C. Doherty, Jr.