Two Men Charged With Fentanyl Overdose

The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced today that a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Gary Delima, 26, and Sharif Cargo, 26, both of Brooklyn, New York, with Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance, Resulting in Death. An additional co-conspirator, Tyson Williams, 31, of Brooklyn and Vermont, was charged with conspiring with Delima, Cargo, and others to distribute at least 28 grams of cocaine base.

Delima, Cargo, and others had been federally indicted on March 18, 2015, on charges related to a conspiracy to distribute heroin and cocaine base in Vermont. A grand jury returned another indictment against them on November 17, 2015, accusing them of sex trafficking by force and coercion of two females, and sex trafficking of a third victim, a minor. Today, a federal grand jury in Burlington returned a Fourth Superseding Indictment, adding new charges related to the July 6, 2014 fentanyl overdose death of a person referred to as G.B. in the indictment. Specifically, the conspiracy was enlarged to include conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, and Delima and Cargo are accused of conspiring with each other and others to distribute the fentanyl that killed victim G.B.

If convicted, Cargo and Delima face a mandatory minimum of 20 years of imprisonment, and up to a maximum of life imprisonment for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance, Resulting in Death. Cargo and Delima also face a mandatory minimum of 15 years of imprisonment, and up to a maximum of life imprisonment, for Sex Trafficking by Force and Coercion. Delima faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years of imprisonment, and up to life imprisonment, for the Sex Trafficking of a Child. The actual sentence, however, would be determined by the Court with guidance from the advisory Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

The United States Attorney emphasizes that the charges in the indictment are merely accusations and that the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty.

United States Attorney Eric S. Miller commended the investigative efforts of the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the South Burlington Police Department; and the Burlington Police Department.
The United States is represented in this matter by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Abigail Averbach and Jonathan Ophardt. Sharif Cargo is represented by Thomas J. Sherrer, Esq. Gary Delima is represented by Brooks G. McArthur, Esq. and David J. Williams, Esq. Tyson Williams is represented by Devin McLaughlin, Esq.