Vermont Man Sentenced for Fentanyl and Cocaine Distribution Conspiracy

Burlington, Vermont – A grim chapter in the Northeast Kingdom’s battle against illegal drugs unfolded on June 28, 2024, as Clair Deslandes, a 65-year-old resident of Island Pond, was sentenced to 30 months’ imprisonment followed by a 3-year term of supervised release. United States District Judge Christina Reiss imposed the sentence after Deslandes pleaded guilty to conspiring with Juan Carlos ‘JC’ Ortiz and others to distribute fentanyl and cocaine base.

Deslandes and Ortiz’s association began in late 2021 when Ortiz was distributing drugs across Orleans County, Vermont. Records show that Deslandes not only procured substances for his personal use but also for distribution within the Northeast Kingdom. His Island Pond residence became a hub for storing and selling illegal substances to customers. The partnership lasted until Ortiz’s arrest in August 2022, at which point Judge Reiss sentenced Ortiz to 95 months’ imprisonment.

This conviction follows a prolonged investigation by the Northeastern Vermont Drug Task Force (NEVDTF) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with support from various federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies including Homeland Security Investigations, Vermont State Police, Orleans and Essex County Sheriff’s Departments, Newport Police Department, Air & Marine Operations component of United States Customs & Border Protection, and the FBI. U.S. Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest praised the collaborative efforts that led to the successful prosecution.

Represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Lasher, Deslandes was opposed by William Kraham, Esq. The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a comprehensive strategy aimed at reducing violent crime and making communities safer. Launched in May 2021, PSN focuses on fostering trust, supporting community-based organizations, setting strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring results.

For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, visit Justice.gov/PSN.

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