Fentanyl Trafficking Scheme Exposed in Brattleboro
A 54-year-old man from Brattleboro, Vermont, has been sentenced in United States District Court in Rutland, Vermont for his role in a fentanyl trafficking operation.
Dean Gero, formerly of Brattleboro, was sentenced to a time-served term of incarceration and three years of supervised release by Chief United States District Judge Geoffrey Crawford. The sentencing follows Gero’s guilty plea to distribution of fentanyl.
According to court records, in April 2019, Gero sold fentanyl-laced heroin in his apartment at 50 Central Street in Brattleboro. He also hosted drug traffickers at the residence in early 2020, providing them a place to cook, store, and sell their narcotics. In March 2020, law enforcement executed a search warrant at the 50 Central Street residence and found approximately 38 grams of cocaine base as well as a handgun and a magazine containing live ammunition.
Gero was initially arrested on August 20, 2020. He was released on conditions, including a requirement that he attend residential treatment for substance misuse, with additional outpatient counseling as recommended by the United States Probation Office to follow. Gero’s release was extended until his sentencing.
The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont commended the efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Vermont State Police Southern Vermont Drug Task Force, and the Brattleboro Police Department in this matter. “People who assist drug traffickers by permitting them to distribute dangerous narcotics out of their homes play an important role in supporting the for-profit drug trade. The United States Attorney’s Office will continue to target for prosecution armed drug trafficking organizations and the people who assist them, while recognizing that successful treatment remains the best tool for reducing both demand for illicit substances and the number of Vermonters willing to support the drug trade,” said Acting United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt.
Assistant United States Attorney Nicole Cate handled the prosecution. Gero was represented by Paul Volk, Esq.
The sentencing brings an end to Gero’s involvement in the fentanyl trafficking operation. His sentence serves as a reminder of the consequences of supporting and participating in the for-profit drug trade.
Key Facts
- State: Vermont
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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