Umar Koon, Fentanyl and Cocaine Trafficking, Vermont 2024

Burlington, Vermont - In a major blow to the illicit drug trade in the Chittenden County area, Umar Koon, 46, of The Bronx, New York, was sentenced to six months of imprisonment on Friday, January 12, 2024, for his guilty plea to a charge that he possessed fentanyl, cocaine base, and cocaine with intent to distribute.

According to court records, the Northwestern Vermont Drug Task Force and the Federal Bureau of Investigation began an investigation of Koon in the summer of 2023 after obtaining information that Koon was selling fentanyl in the Chittenden County area.

Between September and November 2023, investigators, utilizing a confidential informant, made seven controlled purchases of fentanyl and cocaine base from Koon. Investigators arrested Koon on November 14, 2023, after he returned to Burlington from New York City on a bus.

Agents seized a suitcase Koon was carrying, obtained a state warrant to search the bag, and recovered distribution quantities of cocaine, cocaine base, and fentanyl. They also seized $1500 in cash from Koon’s person.

Koon was held without bail on state drug charges until December 6, 2023, when he was released to live in New York City. On December 7, 2023, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Koon with seven counts of distributing narcotics and one count of possessing other narcotics with intent to distribute.

Federal agents arrested Koon at his home in The Bronx on December 12, 2023. The State of Vermont has dismissed its case in favor of this federal prosecution.

Koon is represented by Mark Kaplan, Esq. The prosecutor is Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Waples. Koon is required to serve three years of supervised release following completion of his prison term. He is expected to surrender to the Bureau of Prisons on January 21, 2025, to begin serving his sentence.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-vt/pr/umar-koon-sentenced-prison-federal-drug-charge