A 22-year-old man from Brooklyn, New York, has been charged with evidence tampering in Vermont after authorities discovered he attempted to destroy evidence while in custody.
Damien DeJesus, 22, of Brooklyn, New York, was charged by criminal complaint with evidence tampering for his destruction and attempted destruction of evidence that he believed would be used in a criminal prosecution against him.
According to court records, DeJesus was detained on August 14, 2025, when law enforcement executed a federal search warrant on a residence in Vergennes, Vermont. The search warrant resulted in the discovery of controlled substances, including cocaine, and three loaded firearms inside the house.
After DeJesus was detained, law enforcement investigators brought him to the Vergennes Police Department for questioning. There, DeJesus was searched and placed in a holding cell prior to an interview. While waiting to be interviewed, DeJesus attempted to destroy evidence by flushing a plastic bag containing cocaine down the toilet.
DeJesus faces up to twenty years’ incarceration if convicted. The actual sentence, however, would be determined by the District Court with guidance from the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines and the statutory sentencing factors.
Acting United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher thanked the officers and agents from Homeland Security Investigations, the United States Marshals Service, the Rutland City Police Department, the Vergennes Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives for their work on this matter.
The prosecutors are Assistant United States Attorneys Michelle Arra and Zachary Stendig. DeJesus is represented by Jason Sawyer, Esq. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Related Federal Cases
- Damien DeJesus, Evidence Tampering, Vermont 2025 · New York
- Bernard Savage, Drug Trafficking, Vermont 2023 · Colorado
- Misti Baker, Medicaid Program Fraud, Vermont 2012 · New Hampshire
- Donna Young, False Statements, Vermont 2016 · New Hampshire
- Donald Ray Boles, Child Pornography Possession, Vermont 2017 · Indiana
Key Facts
- State: Vermont
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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