The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that it has filed a Complaint seeking civil forfeiture of a residence in St. Albans related to drug trafficking activity that occurred in the house from 2004 through 2006. The underlying drug trafficking case involved the 2006-07 prosecution of Robin Keller, formerly of 25 Lower Gilman Street in St. Albans, Vermont. Keller was arrested in March 2006 and eventually pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine. As part of the plea agreement, reached in March 2007, Keller agreed to forfeiture of the 25 Lower Gilman Street property. The government agreed to postpone the forfeiture until Keller’s two minor children who resided in the home became adults. Both children have now reached the age of majority.
According to court records, Keller used a network of couriers to distribute over ten kilograms of crack cocaine in the St. Albans area from 2004 until March 2006, when she was arrested at the Back Street Bar in St. Albans. Keller purchased cocaine powder largely from a Holyoke, Massachusetts source and then cooked the powder into crack cocaine at the home on Lower Gilman Street in St. Albans, where she lived with her two young children. A March 2006 search of Keller’s home by the Vermont Drug Task Force resulted in the seizure and eventual forfeiture of over $170,000 in cash, much of it hidden in the floor joists of the house.
In July 2007, Judge William K. Sessions III sentenced Keller to 168 months in prison (later reduced to 140 months). Judge Sessions stated at the time that "countless people suffered as a result of the drugs" that Keller distributed and that Keller used "intimidation," including tire slashing to ensure payment for her drug sales. Judge Session also stated it was the "largest crack cocaine case" he had seen in federal court at that time.
This matter was investigated by the Vermont Drug Task Force of the Vermont State Police. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Perella.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
