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Press Release

Three Individuals Sentenced to Federal Prison After Convictions for Conspiring to Distribute Heroin, Fentanyl and Crack Cocaine in Chittenden County

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Vermont

The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that United States District Judge William K. Sessions III sentenced Lassine Sangho, 25, of Philadelphia, PA, as well as Karen Norful, 57, of Winooski, VT, and Matthew Reynolds, 30, of Saint Albans, VT, to federal prison for engaging in a conspiracy to distribute heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine base. On August 5, 2019, Sangho was sentenced to 120 months in jail and 5 years of supervised release.  Norful was sentenced to 36 months in jail and 3 years of supervised release on August 5, 2019.  Yesterday, Reynolds was sentenced to 60 months in jail and 4 years of supervised release.

According to court documents, the prosecution grew out of a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and local law enforcement investigation into heroin and crack distribution in the Winooski area. The investigation revealed that between December 2017 and August 2018 Sangho oversaw a drug trafficking operation in Chittenden and Franklin Counties with Norful and Reynolds as the main distributors. The investigation used confidential informants under the supervision of the DEA to conduct purchases of controlled substances from Norful and Reynolds. On August 2, 2018, law enforcement agents arrested Sangho after he brought crack cocaine and fentanyl to Vermont for sale. On the same day, DEA and local law enforcement agents executed a search warrant at Norful's home, which yielded approximately 500 grams of cocaine base and approximately 20 grams of fentanyl.

On March 15, 2019, Norful pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute over 100 grams of heroin and 28 grams of cocaine base. On March 20, 2019, Sangho pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute heroin and over 280 grams of cocaine base. Then, on April 1, 2019, Reynolds pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute over 100 grams of heroin and over 28 grams of cocaine base.

In addition to the DEA, officers from the Winooski City Police and Vermont State Police, Williston Barracks, assisted with the investigation, arrests and search warrants.

Sangho is represented by Bradley S. Stetler, Esq. Norful is represented by Richard C. Bothfeld, Esq. Reynolds is represented by Heather E. Ross, Esq. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul J. Van de Graaf represents the United States.

Updated August 13, 2019

Topics
Drug Trafficking
Opioids