Michael P. Drescher Acting United States Attorney for the District of Vermont | U.S. Attorney for the District of Vermont
The United States Attorney’s Office has announced the sentencing of twelve individuals involved in a drug and firearm conspiracy in Springfield, Vermont. The offenses, which took place between March and November 2022, included the distribution of cocaine base and fentanyl, as well as unlawful possession of firearms. The final sentencing occurred on June 16, 2025.
Court documents revealed that the conspiracy operated primarily on Valley Street in Springfield and involved firearms used to further their activities. Some firearms were discharged during the trafficking operations. Federal search warrants executed on November 30, 2022, led to several arrests.
Chief United States District Judge Christina Reiss sentenced Anibal Castro, Sr. to 108 months; Jonathan Castro to 98 months; Alex Barnes to 47 months; James Hines to 38 months; Jessica Auclair to eight months; and Jennifer Armstrong received time served. Each sentence is followed by three years of federal supervised release.
United States District Judge Geoffrey W. Crawford sentenced Anibal Castro, Jr. to 72 months and Martine Protas received time served, both followed by three years of supervised release.
United States District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr. sentenced Kerri Yaqoob to 75 months with a three-year supervised release term.
United States District Judge Mary Kay Lanthier imposed a time-served sentence for Todd Amell with three years of supervised release.
United States District Judge William K. Sessions III sentenced Michael Cotter and Derek Arie to time served with two years and one year of supervised release respectively.
Acting U.S. Attorney Michael P. Drescher praised the efforts of multiple law enforcement agencies including the FBI, Vermont State Police, Vermont Drug Task Force, DEA, Homeland Security Investigations, ATF, Massachusetts State Police, Springfield Police Department, and Windsor County State’s Attorney’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary Stendig represents the United States in this case with assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew Gilman and Joe Perella.
Legal representation for the defendants includes Natasha Sen for Anibal Castro Sr., Robert Behrens for Jonathan Castro, Karen Shingler for Anibal Castro Jr., Kevin Henry for Derek Arie, Michael Shklar for Martine Protas, Mark Oettinger for Michael Cotter, Peter Langrock for Jessica Auclair, Richard Bothfeld for Kerri Yaqoob, John-Claude Charbonneau for Alex Barnes, Stephanie Greenlees for James Hines, Chandler Matson for Todd Amell, and Jason Sawyer for Jennifer Armstrong.
