Marcus Watkins, Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine Base, Vermont 2024

South Burlington, VT – In a shocking turn of events, 35-year-old Marcus Watkins, a notorious recidivist drug trafficker, was arrested yesterday in South Burlington, Vermont, on charges of possession with intent to distribute cocaine base, a Schedule II controlled substance.

According to court records, the Burlington Police Department received information indicating that Watkins was potentially in possession of controlled substances. The department coordinated with the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Colchester Police Department to conduct a traffic stop of Watkins’ vehicle for a motor vehicle violation in South Burlington.

During the stop, a search of the vehicle revealed a corner of a small plastic bag containing suspected cocaine base and two Ziploc bags containing suspected marijuana. When advised that he would be arrested for possession of cocaine, Watkins stated he would not go back to jail, and attempted to walk away from the officers.

When the officers attempted to arrest him, Watkins resisted, leading to a search of his person, which resulted in the seizure of approximately $8,610 from the left front pocket of his pants. Further investigation revealed that Watkins had attempted to conceal additional quantities of cocaine base in his underwear and on his person.

Watkins has a lengthy criminal record that includes four prior felony drug convictions, with his last release from the Federal Bureau of Prisons on September 12, 2019, after serving a 36-month sentence for possession with intent to distribute heroin. At the time of his most recent arrest, Watkins was serving a term of federal supervised release.

If convicted, Watkins faces a maximum of twenty years of imprisonment, with the actual sentence to be determined by the Court with guidance from the advisory Federal Sentencing Guidelines. The United States Attorney emphasizes that the charges in the complaint are merely accusations, and that the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until he is proven guilty.

United States Attorney Christina E. Nolan commended the investigative efforts of the Burlington Police Department, the Colchester Police Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Ophardt, with Watkins represented by the Office of the Federal Public Defender.

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