Roosevelt Norris Charged with Drug Trafficking

Burlington, Vermont – The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that Roosevelt Norris, 54, of Rutland, Vermont, appeared on Friday, September 22, 2023, before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle after the federal grand jury in Burlington charged him with three counts of distributing cocaine base, a Schedule II controlled substance. According to court records, Norris, who is also known as “Maz,” sold cocaine base to a confidential informant on three occasions in July and August 2023. Norris pleaded not guilty to the charges. Magistrate Judge Doyle ordered Norris to remain in the custody of the United States Marshals pending trial.

The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that a criminal complaint contains allegations only and that Norris is presumed innocent until and unless he is convicted of a crime. Norris faces up to 20 years in prison, a maximum fine of $1,000,000, and up to a lifetime of supervised release, with a mandatory minimum of three years of supervised release. The actual sentence, however, would be determined by the Court with guidance from the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines.

United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the investigatory efforts of the Vermont State Police and the Rutland Police Department.  

The prosecutors are Assistant United States Attorneys Corinne M. Smith and Jonathan A. Ophardt. Norris is represented by Michael J. Straub, Esq.