Olayinka Babatunde, Fentanyl Distribution, Vermont 2020

BROOKLYN, NEW YORK MAN SENTENCED TO 36 MONTHS’ IMPRISONMENT FOR FENTANYL DISTRIBUTION IN RUTLAND AREA

A Brooklyn, New York man was sentenced to 36 months of imprisonment for fentanyl distribution in the Rutland area of Vermont. Olayinka Babatunde, a.k.a. "Tom", 23, previously pleaded guilty to the charge.

According to court records, on January 29, 2020, law enforcement executed a search warrant at 8 Sheldon Place in Rutland, Vermont. The investigation revealed that Babatunde and Quadeim Mack, also from Brooklyn, used this residence as a base station to distribute drugs in the Rutland area. In an upstairs bedroom, law enforcement seized 9 grams of fentanyl, 57 grams of cocaine base, and 50 grams of cocaine. Additionally, a loaded .22 caliber revolver and $13,050 of drug proceeds were seized.

Babatunde plead guilty to fentanyl distribution, and as part of the plea agreement, the government and the defendant agreed to a term of imprisonment of 36 months. The federal sentence will be served concurrently to the defendant’s state sentence in New York for attempted murder (2nd degree), a charge to which Babatunde previously pleaded guilty and agreed to an eight-year sentence.

U.S. Attorney Nikolas Kerest commended the investigative efforts of the Vermont State Police Drug Task Force, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Rutland City Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Perella. Babatunde was represented by Richard Goldsborough, Esq. of South Burlington, Vermont.

The prosecution was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation, which identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

Babatunde’s prosecution highlighted the ongoing efforts to combat fentanyl distribution and organized crime in Vermont. The community can expect continued efforts from law enforcement agencies to dismantle and disrupt these operations.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-vt/pr/brooklyn-new-york-man-sentenced-36-months-imprisonment-fentanyl-distribution-rutland-area