BURLINGTON, VT – Justice came down hard on former Alburgh Selectboard member Bernard Savage, 57, and his wife, Patricia Savage, 57, today as they received federal prison sentences for their roles in a drug trafficking operation. Bernard was slapped with a 15-month prison term and ordered to forfeit $75,000, pay a $5,000 fine, and face three years of supervised release. Patricia received one month behind bars, with Judge William K. Sessions III ordering her to begin serving immediately.
The case, investigated by the DEA, Vermont Drug Task Force, and the FBI, stemmed from an August 2014 investigation into Bernard Savage’s drug dealings. A confidential informant made seven separate controlled purchases of oxycodone and powder cocaine directly from the couple. Recordings of their interactions revealed Savage’s brazen admission: “I deal coke, I deal pills, I deal pot. I do all that shit.” He boasted, “I bet you I’ve pumped out about twenty-five hundred pills in the last two weeks,” and chillingly declared, “I got pills. I got coke, I got pot. I got everything you want. I’m like a walking drugstore.”
On July 1, 2015, law enforcement raided the Savage residence in Alburgh, uncovering a disturbing arsenal and a full-blown drug operation. The search yielded 103 firearms, cocaine, a variety of opiate pills – including oxycodone, morphine, hydrocodone, and percocet – marijuana, approximately $20,000 in cash, drug scales, multiple cell phones, and the remnants of a methamphetamine lab. This wasn’t a side hustle; it was a deeply embedded criminal enterprise run from within the community.
A Burlington grand jury indicted Bernard Savage on September 10, 2015, with conspiracy to distribute oxycodone and cocaine, five counts of distributing the drugs, and possession of a firearm while using controlled substances. Patricia was later added to the indictment, facing the same charges. On April 25, 2016, Bernard Savage entered a plea agreement, admitting guilt to conspiracy to distribute cocaine and oxycodone and agreeing to the $75,000 forfeiture. The agreement didn’t offer a path to leniency, merely an acknowledgment of wrongdoing.
Judge Sessions ordered Bernard Savage to surrender to the Bureau of Prisons on March 7, 2017, to begin his sentence. While the sentences may seem lenient to some, the forfeiture and the stain of conviction are a significant blow to the Savages, who once held a position of public trust. This case serves as a stark reminder that even those in positions of power are not above the law, and that drug trafficking will be met with federal prosecution.
Karen Shingler represented Bernard Savage, while Norman Blais defended Patricia. Wendy Fuller represented the United States in the matter. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on any further developments. The Vermont Drug Task Force and federal agencies remain vigilant in their efforts to dismantle drug networks and bring those responsible to justice.
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Key Facts
- State: Vermont
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Public Corruption|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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