July 13, 2009

TWO DERBY, VERMONT MEN SENTENCED FOR MARIJUANA CONSPIRACY

The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that Burton S. Jacobs, Jr., 42, of Derby, Vermont, and Randall L. Blake, 44, also of Derby, Vermont were sentenced today in Burlington, Vermont in United States District Court by the Chief Judge William K. Sessions III for their role in a conspiracy to import and distribute marijuana. Jacobs was sentenced to 51 months imprisonment, followed by 5 years of supervised release. Blake was sentenced to a 87 month prison term, followed by 4 years of supervised release.

On January 7, 2009 Burton Jacobs pleaded guilty to conspiracies to import marijuana into the United States and to distribute marijuana, and on February 27, 2009, Randall Blake pleaded guilty to the same offenses. Court documents show that between 2001 and 2006 Jacobs and Blake and their confederates carried between 7,000 and 20,000 pounds of marijuana from Canada into the United States. The marijuana was supplied by people tied to Italian organized crime in Montreal, who drove the marijuana in bags to the area just north of the border. The defendants walked across the border, met the Canadians and smuggled the marijuana into the United States. Drivers hired by Jacobs then drove the bags of marijuana to cities in the northeastern United States for further distribution.

Dustin Craig and Leonard Brien had previously been sentenced for their roles in the conspiracy. Craig was sentenced to 21 months in prison and 4 years of supervised release on June 29, 2009. The Court found he had a minor role in the conspiracy, acting as a courier rather than directing the activity in any way. Brien was sentenced to three months in prison, plus a $7500 fine and a forfeiture of property adjacent to his house. He was also found to have a minor role in the conspiracy, had no criminal record and an outstanding record of community involvement and service.

Acting United States Attorney Paul J. Van de Graaf commends the investigation handled by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Drug Enforcement Administration with the assistance of the Vermont State Police. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney James J. Gelber, Burton Jacobs is represented by Burlington attorney Paul S. Volk, and Randall Blake is represented by Michael L. Desautels of the Office of the Federal Public Defender.

“This case demonstrates the benefit of strong working relationships and partnerships among law enforcement agencies in Vermont,” said Bruce M. Foucart, special agent-in-charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Office of Investigations in Boston. “The final result of this joint effort is the takedown of a criminal drug enterprise that was menacing the northeastern part of the country. Homeland security is a shared mission and we will continue to work closely with our partners to protect the safety and security of our communities and our nation.”