Terrance Chipp, Heroin and Cocaine Base Trafficking, Vermont 2023

A Rutland man has been sentenced to 72 months' imprisonment for his role in a heroin and cocaine base trafficking operation.

Terrance Chipp, 42, of Rutland, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Geoffrey Crawford on [no date mentioned].

Chipp had previously pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute heroin and cocaine base, and conspiracy to unlawfully possess a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense.

These offenses each carried a maximum of up to twenty years imprisonment.

According to court records, on May 6, 2019, law enforcement executed a state search warrant at Chipp’s residence on Plain Street in Rutland. Inside a safe located in Chipp’s bedroom, law enforcement found about eight grams of heroin, two grams of cocaine base, a SCCY 9 mm pistol, and a loaded magazine.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to vigorously investigate and prosecute drug trafficking crimes involving firearms, working with our partners to deploy the necessary resources to the many hard-hit areas of southern Vermont.

Chipp is represented by Federal Public Defender David McColgin of Burlington.

This matter was investigated by the Vermont State Police Drug Task Force, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), and the Rutland City Police Department.

This case was prosecuted on behalf of the government by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Perella.

U.S. Attorney Nolan stated that “the possession of firearms to protect drug trafficking activities greatly amplifies the already grave risk of harm to the community caused by heroin and crack cocaine distribution.

The prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhood, a nationwide commitment to reduce gun crime in America.

For more information about Project Safe Neighborhood and Project Safe Vermont, please visit: www.psn.gov.prb

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-vt/pr/rutland-man-sentenced-72-months-imprisonment-heroin-and-cocaine-base-trafficking-and