Sheri Fitzgerald, Hosting Heroin Dealers, Vermont 2016

State: Vermont
Agency: DOJ USAO
Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud &#038; Financial Crimes|Organized Crime
Source: <a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-vt/pr/three-rutland-county-residents-plead-guilty-hosting-out-state-drug-dealers-their" style="color:#cc0000;" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Official Source ↗

GRIMY TIMES EXCLUSIVE: Sheri Fitzgerald, 54, of Rutland; Wayne Oddo, 54, of Poultney; and Richard Webster, 60, of West Rutland, have all entered guilty pleas for violating the federal “crack-house” statute. They each hosted out-of-state heroin dealers in their homes, facilitating drug distribution.

Fitzgerald, who lived at a Granger Street apartment, allowed an out-of-state dealer to stay and sell drugs from her residence in March 2016. She received heroin in exchange for the accommodation. Oddo, of Morse Hollow Road, hosted Richard Torruellas and Francesco Escribano, known as the Jersey Boys, who were distributing heroin and crack cocaine in Rutland County. He was arrested on March 15, 2017, after admitting to moving a body.

“The heroin crisis in Vermont requires a multi-faceted approach aimed at reducing supply,” stated U.S. Attorney Christina Nolan. “Facilitators like these must understand that their conduct will be met with felony charges.” Fitzgerald, Oddo, and Webster face maximum penalties of 20 years’ imprisonment and up to $500,000 in fines.

According to court documents, Webster was involved in similar activities. He lived at a West Rutland residence where he allowed dealers to stay and sell drugs. The trio’s actions are part of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s strategy to dismantle drug pipelines and create a hostile environment for those profiting from the opioid addiction epidemic.

“Facilitators must understand that such conduct will be met with felony charges,” Nolan emphasized. “Prosecuting in-state hosts and shutting down drug safe houses is critical to our strategy.” The U.S. Attorney’s Office may also utilize federal forfeiture law to seize property connected to drug dealing activities.

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