Michael P. Drescher Acting United States Attorney for the District of Vermont | U.S. Attorney for the District of Vermont
During the recent lapse in government funding that began on October 1, 2025, and ended on November 12, 2025, employees of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont continued their work without pay. The office released a summary of its accomplishments during this period.
Several indictments were returned by the Grand Jury. On October 2, Tashama Oates from Connecticut was indicted for conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine. Oates faces a mandatory minimum sentence of at least ten years if convicted and was ordered detained pending trial.
On October 15, Dontayveus Thomas of Florida was indicted on charges related to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and cocaine, as well as firearm possession in connection with drug activity. Thomas could face at least fifteen years in prison if convicted and is detained pending trial.
Deandre Watson from Detroit was indicted on October 16 for possession with intent to distribute cocaine base; he faces a minimum five-year sentence if convicted and is detained pending trial. That same day, Jamelle Willis from Brooklyn was also indicted for similar charges but was released on conditions after the government sought detention.
Juan Pablo Espinoza-Morales of Mexico was charged by criminal complaint on October 22 with transporting nine individuals into the United States from Canada. If convicted, he could serve up to ten years in prison and has been ordered detained pending trial.
Isiah Smith from Brooklyn faced indictment on October 23 for conspiracy to distribute heroin and cocaine base; he faces at least ten years if convicted and is detained pending trial. Ezra Dillon from Burlington was indicted for Hobbs Act robbery involving brandishing a knife during a theft at City Market; Dillon could receive up to twenty years’ imprisonment if convicted and is currently detained.
Other indictments included Mark Billy Brown from Springfield (Massachusetts), Raymond Regimbald from Rutland (Vermont), Maurice Jackson from Brooklyn (New York), Aldrain Ashby who faces charges including distribution of fentanyl resulting in death or serious injury near a school zone, Mohamed Mubarak from Kenya charged with making false statements regarding firearm acquisition attempts, Tremaine Knight from Hartford (Connecticut) facing murder-for-hire among other counts, Haley Morgan from Burlington accused of enticing a minor and distributing child sexual abuse materials (released on conditions), Ayman Khalifa from St. Albans (Vermont) charged with multiple drug offenses, Guadalupe Vargas from Arleta (California) facing several drug-related charges along with firearms offenses, and Dejaneiro McDaniel from Lancaster (California).
Sentencings handed down during this period included Davonne Brown of Manhattan sentenced to over nine years following his plea related to firearms offenses tied to drug trafficking; Hussein Iman received ten years for drug and money laundering crimes; Davon Lee got five years for possessing a firearm linked to drug trafficking; Meghan Cox received twenty months after pleading guilty to robbery conspiracy; Gordon Richard got eighteen months for cocaine distribution while James Plunkett received six-and-a-half years for bank robbery. Other sentences involved Joseph Cadorette II for maintaining premises used in drug activities, Gabriel Lopes Da Silva Santos—a Brazilian national—for firearm possession without immigration status, Jaquan Rivera for felon-in-possession firearms offense combined with fentanyl distribution.
The office also reported successfully forfeiting Gordon Richard’s Milton residence due to its use in furthering his crime.
“All indictments and complaints are allegations only. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they are convicted. Upon conviction, the Court’s sentencing decisions will be informed by the Federal Sentencing Guidelines and Statutory Sentencing Factors,” according to the statement issued by the office.
