The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that, on July 25, 2016, Jabbar Hutchins, 21, of Newark, New Jersey, was sentenced to 16 months in federal prison after his guilty plea to charges that he distributed heroin. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Christina Reiss also ordered that Hutchins serve three years of supervised release after his prison term.

According to court records, Hutchins transported significant quantities of heroin from New Jersey to Vermont for re-distribution. On October 14, 2015, after an investigation lasting several months, the Vermont State Police Drug Task Force used a confidential informant to purchase approximately 1500 bags of heroin from Hutchins. Following the drug deal, law enforcement agents arrested Hutchins.

For his crime, Hutchins faced a statutory maximum term of 20 years in prison. The United States Sentencing Guidelines, which are advisory, recommended that Hutchins receive a prison term between 18 and 24 months. In determining the appropriate sentence, Judge Reiss considered the gravity of Hutchins’ offense, the harm heroin has caused to the Vermont community and Hutchins’ lack of a criminal record.

United States Attorney Eric Miller commended the efforts of the Vermont State Police Drug Task Force and the Burlington Police Department for their coordinated work in this investigation. United States Attorney Miller noted that this case is part of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Vermont Heroin Initiative, which is a coordinated effort by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to combat heroin distribution in Vermont. According to United States Attorney Miller, the United States Attorney’s Office and its law enforcement partners will continue to disrupt the flow of heroin into Vermont and hold drug dealers accountable for their serious crimes against the community.

The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy C. Doherty, Jr. Hutchins is represented by Assistant Federal Public Defender Elizabeth Quinn.