Shatu H. Gadson, 44, of Queens, New York, is headed to federal prison for 30 months after admitting to dealing heroin and cocaine base in Burlington, Vermont. The sentence, handed down January 26, 2017, by U.S. District Court Judge J. Garvan Murtha, lands hard on a repeat offender with a trail of violent and drug-related convictions stretching back years.
Gadson pleaded guilty to federal drug distribution charges stemming from a controlled operation run by law enforcement in early 2016. Between February and March of that year, police used a confidential informant to buy multiple quantities of heroin and crack cocaine directly from Gadson on several occasions. The transactions, tracked and recorded, painted a clear picture of a dealer operating with little regard for the devastation his drugs leave behind.
On April 1, 2016, federal agents moved in, arresting Gadson in New York City before bringing him across state lines to face charges in Vermont. Though the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines called for 21 to 27 months behind bars, Judge Murtha opted for 30 months—citing Gadson’s extensive criminal history, including prior felony convictions for drug dealing, assault, and manslaughter.
The prosecution and defense entered a plea agreement recommending the 30-month sentence, a deal reached after weighing the strength of the evidence and Gadson’s record. The judge accepted the agreement, adding three years of supervised release once Gadson walks out of prison. Violating those terms could land him back behind bars with no second chances.
U.S. Attorney Eric Miller credited a multi-agency crackdown involving the Burlington Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security, Vermont State Police, and the U.S. Marshals. This case, Miller emphasized, is part of the Vermont Heroin Initiative—a coordinated federal and local push to dismantle drug networks flooding the state with deadly narcotics.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy C. Doherty, Jr. handled the prosecution. Gadson was represented by Assistant Federal Public Defender Steven Barth. The message from federal prosecutors is clear: dealers like Gadson, especially those with violent pasts, will be hunted down, prosecuted, and buried under federal time.
Related Federal Cases
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- Vermont Man Sentenced for Heroin and Crack Cocaine Distribution · New York
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Key Facts
- State: Vermont
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: Official Source ↗
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