May 27, 2009

NEW YORK MAN SENTENCED IN CRACK CASE

The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that on May 22, 2009, Joseph Brown, 54, was sentenced to a prison term of time-served and three years of supervised release following his guilty plea to a single-count Information charging him with possessing with intent to distribute crack cocaine. Brown, who is from New York City, entered the guilty plea on February 18, 2009 in the midst of jury trial in Burlington, Vermont. Brown has been in federal custody since his arrest on July 28, 2006 and has therefore served approximately 34 months in prison. United States District Judge William K. Sessions III also ordered Brown to pay a $100 special assessment.

Court records reveal that on July 28, 2006 Brown drove Jose Lavandier, also from New York, to the parking lot of a fast food restaurant in Barre, Vermont. In the back of Brown’s van were approximately 200 grams of crack cocaine and 100 grams of powder cocaine. The drugs were intended for Timothy Brochu, a then-resident of Barre who had been selling crack and powder cocaine for Lavandier in Vermont for several months. Unbeknownst to Lavandier and Brown, agents from the Vermont State Police, the Northwest Vermont Drug Task Force, and the DEA were monitoring the parking lot in anticipation of the drug deal. Brown, Lavandier, and Brochu were arrested and indicted by a federal grand jury in Burlington on various cocaine-related charges.

On November 6, 2006, Brochu pled guilty to a single count of possessing with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of crack cocaine and was eventually sentenced to serve 39 months in prison.

On October 6, 2008, Jose Lavandier also pled guilty to a single count of possessing with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of crack cocaine. Lavandier was sentenced to a 51-month prison term.

Assistant United States Attorneys Gregory L. Waples, Michael P. Drescher, and Timothy C. Doherty, Jr. handled the prosecution of this matter. Brown represented himself at the sentencing hearing.

Acting United States Attorney Paul J. Van de Graaf commended the Northwest Vermont Drug Task Force, the Vermont State Police, and the DEA for their hard work on this investigation