The United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that Terrance Tinsley, 40, of Queens, New York, appeared today in United States District Court in Burlington on a charge that he possessed heroin and cocaine base with intent to distribute. U.S. District Judge William K. Sessions III ordered that Tinsley be detained pending a further hearing on September 19.
Burlington Police officers arrested Tinsley on the morning of September 14 after they executed a search warrant at an upper-floor apartment at 416 Pearl Street in Burlington. According to the criminal complaint, a confidential source working with BPD made a controlled purchase of heroin for $200 from within that apartment on the evening of September 13. When officers entered the apartment to search the next day, they found Tinsley in a bedroom. In that bedroom, searchers recovered about 50 grams of cocaine base, about five grams of heroin, a loaded pistol and about $5000. The cash included the $200 in pre-recorded buy money the confidential source had used to buy heroin the previous day.
The United States Attorney emphasizes that the charge in the complaint is merely an accusation and that the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until he is proven guilty.
If convicted, Tinsley faces up to 20 years of imprisonment on the drug charge and a fine of up to $1,000,000. The actual sentence would be determined with reference to federal sentencing guidelines.
Tinsley is represented by Assistant Federal Public Defender Steve Barth. The prosecutor at today’s hearing was Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Waples.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
