New York City Man Sentenced To 14 Years For Heroin And Crack Cocaine Distribution Conspiracy

The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that United States District Judge Christina Reiss today sentenced Michael Brockenbaugh, 37, of the Bronx, New York, to a 14-year term of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, following Brockenbaugh's guilty plea to conspiring to distribute more than a kilogram of heroin and more than 280 grams of crack cocaine.  The 14-year term of imprisonment was part of a negotiated plea agreement, which Judge Reiss approved.

Court filings indicate that Brockenbaugh, whose nickname in Vermont was “J.D.,” was the leader of the conspiracy that distributed crack cocaine and heroin on Mallets Bay Avenue in Winooski from 2013 to 2015.  The conspiracy utilized group text messaging to customer lists that featured, “Hump Day Specials,” “TGIF Specials,” and “Happy Hour Specials,” during which customers could get a free hit of, or a discounted price for, the drugs being sold by the conspiracy.  Brockenbaugh, the boss of the conspiracy, set the price to be charged and directed others to manage distribution from various residences on Mallets Bay Avenue in Winooski. 

Twenty persons have been convicted in Vermont Federal Court for crimes relating to their role in this conspiracy. 

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration in Vermont and Connecticut, the Vermont State Police, the police departments of Winooski, Burlington, South Burlington, St. Albans, Williston, and Milton, Vermont, as well as the United States Marshals Service and the Department of Homeland Security.  U.S. Attorney Christina Nolan praised the collaborative effort of law enforcement at all levels, which led to the dismantling of a significant drug trafficking organization that sold large quantities of deadly narcotics in Chittenden County.  She noted that the U.S. Attorney’s Office would continue to prioritize combatting the drug trade in partnership with federal, state, local, and county investigators. 

Brockenbaugh was represented by Michael Shklar, Esq.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Michael Drescher and Kunal Pasricha.