Nikolas Kerest U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the District of Vermont
Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont announced that Christopher Morgan, 21, from Chicopee, Massachusetts, was sentenced on March 13, 2025. Chief United States District Judge Christina Reiss imposed a sentence of 78 months in prison followed by a five-year supervised release term. Morgan had previously admitted to charges of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and cocaine and using and carrying a firearm during a drug trafficking crime.
Court records reveal that in 2022, Morgan and his co-defendant Javon Calderon were active in Bennington, Vermont. They distributed fentanyl and cocaine while staying with Shavonne Doucette and Kyle Winnie, who also participated in the illegal activities. In September 2022, at Doucette and Winnie's residence, an incident occurred where Calderon and Morgan assaulted a local distributor over unpaid debts. This altercation involved firearms and resulted in injuries requiring medical attention.
Javon Calderon also pleaded guilty to similar charges as Morgan. On December 23, 2024, he received an 85-month prison sentence with eight years of supervised release afterward. Meanwhile, Doucette and Winnie faced lesser charges for allowing their home to be used for drug distribution. Doucette was sentenced to just over one year in prison on January 21, 2025; Winnie received time served on February 18.
Acting United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher praised the collaborative efforts of various law enforcement agencies including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Vermont State Police among others.
The prosecution team was led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Corinne Smith while defense attorneys included Peter Langrock for Morgan; Devin McKnight for Calderon; Brooks McArthur for Doucette; Jordana Levine represented Winnie.
This case falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), aiming to reduce violent crime through community trust-building measures along with strategic enforcement actions. For more information about PSN initiatives visit Justice.gov/PSN.
