Nikolas Kerest U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the District of Vermont
Jamontay Brister, a 29-year-old resident of Queens, New York, was sentenced to 54 months in prison for his involvement in a drug conspiracy. The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont announced the sentencing, which took place in Burlington's United States District Court. Chief U.S. District Judge Christina Reiss also mandated that Brister serve three years of supervised release after completing his prison term. Brister has been held without bail since his arrest last July.
Court records reveal that in June 2024, investigators from the Burlington Police Department and DEA Task Force officers conducted three controlled purchases of fentanyl from Brister using a confidential source. In July, authorities obtained a warrant to search an apartment in Burlington where Brister rented a room. During the search on July 17, officers found over 950 grams of cocaine, more than 150 grams of fentanyl, approximately $10,000 in cash, and a handgun in Brister's locked bedroom. Due to a previous attempted robbery conviction in New York state, Brister is prohibited from possessing firearms.
The investigation was carried out by the Burlington Police Department’s Narcotics Unit and the DEA Task Force. Assistant Federal Public Defender Sara Puls represented Brister while Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Waples served as the prosecutor.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence by fostering collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities. The program emphasizes building trust within communities, supporting organizations that prevent violence, setting strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring outcomes. More information about PSN can be found at Justice.gov/PSN.
