Rutland Man, Tony Eldien, Sentenced To 36 Months In Jail For Distributing Heroin And Crack Cocaine In Rutland, Vermont

Tristram J. Coffin, the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont, stated that Tony Eldien, 28, of Fairhaven, Vermont was sentenced yesterday by J. Garvan Murtha, United States District Judge, to 36 months in jail for conspiring to distribute heroin and cocaine base.  Eldien was also sentenced to a term of supervised release of 3 years once he completes his prison term.

According to Court records, Tony Eldien was working for Melvin George, also sentenced to 60 months in jail today, to distribute crack cocaine and heroin in Vermont.  Eldien sold drugs to Melvin George’s drug customers at various locations in Rutland, Vermont.  The Southern Vermont Drug Task Force, with the assistance of a confidential informant, made two purchases of controlled substances directly from Eldien at locations in Rutland, Vermont. 

Eldien was indicted by a federal grand jury on September 11, 2013 and appeared in U.S. District Court for an arraignment on March 6, 2014.  He was detained in prison pending trial.  Eldien pled guilty on July 31, 2014 to Count 1 of the Indictment charging him with conspiracy to distribute heroin and cocaine base.

The case was investigated by the Southern Vermont Drug Task Force.  The United States Attorney, Tristram J. Coffin, commends the Drug Task Force for their work in this matter.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney, Nancy J. Creswell.  Eldien was represented by Attorney Jason Sawyer.