Donald Stewart, 42, of Schenectady, New York, and Lisandro Brown, 49, of Rotterdam, New York, have been charged by criminal complaint with conspiracy to distribute cocaine base in Burlington, Vermont, according to a July 28 statement from the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont.
Stewart and Brown appeared before United States Magistrate Judge James O’Hara on July 27. Judge O’Hara ordered that both men be detained pending trial. A trial date has not yet been scheduled.
Court records state that Stewart and Brown sold cocaine base to a confidential source throughout June and July of this year. On July 24, law enforcement executed search warrants at three apartments in Burlington: 60 Colchester Avenue; 157 North Avenue; and 134 North Street. These searches resulted in the seizure of over 200 grams of powder cocaine, a loaded SKS rifle, and more than $27,000 in cash.
The United States Attorney’s Office said that “the complaint contains allegations only and that Stewart and Brown are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.” If convicted on these charges, both men face up to twenty years’ imprisonment. The actual sentence would be determined by the District Court with guidance from the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines as well as statutory sentencing factors.
First Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt commended “the collaborative investigatory efforts of the Burlington Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.” Ophardt is prosecuting the case. Stewart is represented by the Office of the Federal Public Defender, while Brown is represented by Chandler Matson.
The U.S. Attorney for the District of Vermont enforces federal criminal laws across Vermont—including community safety initiatives—and fosters partnerships with local agencies to enhance public safety through crime reduction efforts, according to its official website.