June 29, 2009
WINDSOR MAN JAILED FOR DRUG AND GUN CRIMES
The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that today Mark Adams, Jr., 25, of Windsor was sentenced in United States District Court to imprisonment for 12 months and 1 day for conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of crack cocaine and possession of an unregistered short-barreled shotgun. United States District Court Judge William K. Sessions III also ordered Adams to serve three years of federal supervised release after the term of imprisonment.
According to court records, Adams conspired with brother Matthew James Adams, 23, of Windsor, Paul Keeler, 20, of Connecticut, and others to distribute crack cocaine, heroin, and other drugs in the Windsor area from the summer of 2007 until their arrests in November 2007. During the course of the conspiracy, the Adams brothers and Keeler distributed the drugs from two residences in Windsor. During the fall of 2007, the Vermont State Police (VSP) Drug Task Force and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) conducted a series of controlled purchases of crack cocaine and other drugs from the defendants. During the November arrests, agents seized an unregistered short-barreled shotgun from the residence of the Adams brothers and 40 bags of crack cocaine weighing approximately 20 grams, 69 bags of heroin, and ten oxycodone prescription pills hidden on co-defendant Keeler’s body.
Co-defendant Matthew Adams was sentenced on June 18, 2009, to 30 months’ imprisonment on his pleas of guilty to the conspiracy charge and a second charge of possession of firearms while being an unlawful user of controlled substances. Co-defendant Keeler has entered guilty pleas to a charge of possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crime and a charge of conspiring to distribute an unspecified amount of crack cocaine. Keeler faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment and a mandatory minimum sentence of five years’ imprisonment on the firearms charge and a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment on the conspiracy charge. He is scheduled for sentencing on September 21, 2009. The actual sentence will be determined by the court with reference to the advisory federal sentencing guidelines.
Acting United States Attorney Paul J. Van de Graaf commended the joint investigation by the VSP Drug Task Force and ATF. Mark Adams was represented by South Burlington attorney Richard Goldsborough. Matthew Adams was represented by Barre City attorney David Kidney. Keeler is represented by Burlington attorney Maryanne Kampmann. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Craig Nolan.
Acting U.S. Attorney Van de Graaf noted also that this prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhood, a nationwide commitment to reduce gun crime in America. Led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and ATF, Project Safe Neighborhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who violate federal gun laws. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhood and Project Safe Vermont, please visit: www.psn.gov.
