The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced today that Sami Hayyat, 47, of Middlebury, Vermont, was arrested on Wednesday evening and charged yesterday by criminal complaint. Hayyat was charged with possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl, cocaine, and cocaine base on Sept. 28, 2022. Hayyat is scheduled to appear before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle this afternoon.
According to court records, the Middlebury Police Department initiated a drug trafficking investigation of Hayyat earlier this month. Middlebury Police coordinated with Homeland Security Investigations to assist with the investigation. On the afternoon of Sept. 28, 2022, Hayyat was located driving in Rutland, Vermont by a Rutland City Police Officer. During a subsequent traffic stop, the officer observed that Hayyat was operating the vehicle without the mandated interlock device as required by Hayyat’s restricted driver’s license. Hayyat was arrested for this violation and, based on additional information provided by Middlebury Police, Hayyat’s vehicle was searched by federal agents. The search revealed approximately 279 baggies of suspected fentanyl, approximately 4 grams of suspected cocaine, and approximately 43 grams of suspected cocaine base. Agents also seized from Hayyat’s vehicle drug packaging, a digital scale, a single round of ammunition, and a firearm holster.
The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that a criminal complaint contains allegations only and that Hayyat is presumed innocent until and unless convicted of a crime.
United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the coordinated investigatory efforts of the Middlebury Police Department, the Rutland City Police Department, and Homeland Security Investigations.
The prosecutor is Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan Ophardt. Hayyat is represented by the Office of the Federal Public Defender.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psn
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
