The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that Thomas Parker of Brooklyn, New York was sentenced today to 39 months in prison. Chief Judge Christina Reiss also ordered Parker to serve a three-year period of supervised release following his term of imprisonment. Parker also agreed to the forfeiture of $2,495 as proceeds of drug distribution. On Feb. 3, 2015, Parker pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute heroin and cocaine base and conspiracy to possess firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. On May 28, 2015, Chief Judge Reiss sentenced Tyshawn Mack of Brooklyn, New York to 10 years in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release. Mack had earlier pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute at least 28 grams of cocaine base and 100 grams of heroin.
According to court records, from approximately November 2013 until January 2014, Mack and Parker were involved in the distribution of significant quantities of heroin and cocaine base in the Burlington and Winooski areas. Investigation revealed that drug users were stealing property from area residences to trade for drugs from Mack and Parker. Mack and Parker also traded drugs for firearms and regularly carried firearms in the course of drug dealing. This drug and firearm conspiracy ended on Jan. 24, 2014 when law enforcement arrested Mack, Parker, and other local associates. On that day, a search warrant was executed at a residence on Hickock Street in Burlington where Parker and Mack were known to deal drugs. The residence was rented by Guillaume Etienne, who allowed Mack and Parker to use the apartment to deal drugs. Etienne was federally convicted for his role in this case. Law enforcement seized five firearms and approximately $33,495 in cash from the Hickock Street residence. Simultaneous to the execution of the search warrant on Hickock Street, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop of a truck in which Mack and Evan Blum were riding. The truck had just left the Hickock Street residence and was traveling to the residence of Deirdre Hey, who herself was selling drugs for Mack and Parker. Hey was also federally convicted for her role in this conspiracy. During the course of the traffic stop, Mack got into the driver’s seat of the truck and sped off at high speed through the streets of downtown Winooski. Mack struck several parked cars and eventually came to a stop, after which he fled on foot. Law enforcement apprehended Mack a short time later. A search of Mack incident to his arrest revealed a large amount of cash. A search of the truck yielded two loaded handguns, approximately 100 grams of heroin, 41 grams of ecstasy, 36 grams of cocaine base, and a quantity of marijuana. Blum was also federally convicted for his role in the drug conspiracy.
As a result of these prosecutions, three firearms were forfeited to the United States and three firearms were returned to their lawful owner. The cash seized from the Hickock Street residence was also forfeited.
This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Vermont State Police, the Winooski Police Department, and the Burlington Police Department. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nancy Creswell and Kevin J. Doyle. Mack was represented by Mark A. Kaplan, Esq. of Kaplan and Kaplan in Burlington. Michael J. Straub, Esq. of Burlington represented Parker.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
