By Michael Donoghue, Vermont News First
Two out-of-state men suspected of trafficking crack cocaine in the Chittenden County area have been ordered jailed by a federal judge.
Deandre Watson, 35, of Detroit, Mich. and Jamelle Willis, 39, of Brooklyn, N.Y. appeared for separate hearings in U.S. District Court in Burlington late Friday afternoon for charges of possession of crack cocaine with intent to distribute.
Federal Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle ordered Watson held as both a danger to the community and a risk to flee based on his criminal record that was outlined in court papers and during the hearing by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt.
Burlington Police and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration reportedly found Watson fully dressed in the bathroom, but hiding in a shower at 75 Sherman Street on Thursday, court records note.
Watson was holding multiple large chunks of suspected crack cocaine, a court affidavit said.
The DEA said more multiple chunks of suspected crack cocaine were found on a red dinner plate with a razor blade on the floor of the bathtub. More crack cocaine was spotted near the tub drain, the DEA said.
Investigators field tested Watson’s fingers, and they were positive for crack cocaine, the court papers noted.
More cocaine, individually wrapped for distribution, was located in the dining room, while a plastic bag with multiple individual wrapped chunks of suspected crack cocaine was seized from his left pants pocket, a court affidavit said.
In the end, more than 5 ounces in suspected crack cocaine was seized from Watson, records show.
Ophardt outlined an elaborate criminal history for Watson that included multiple violations of probation and failures to appear for his 6 felony cases, records show.
The weight of the evidence is strong, according to Ophardt.
There were several people at 75 Sherman Street when the joint raid was conducted on Thursday. Burlington Police had identified the residence in September as “a location of interest,” court records show.
During the hearing for Willis, Doyle agreed to continue his case until next Friday to hear the detention motion filed by Ophardt.
Ophardt said the government would use the time to try to understand any connections between the two men. He said it appeared that Willis had no legitimate ties to Vermont.
Defense lawyer Robert Behrens said he would like the extra time to try to develop a release plan for Willis, who has been staying at the North Star Motel on Shelburne Road in Shelburne, records show.
Burlington Police and the DEA executed a search warrant Thursday at the North Star Motel for the room rented by Willis, who is known on the streets as “D-Nice.”
Investigators seized cash, a small quantity of a white rock consistent with crack cocaine, a scale and a cellphone, Burlington Police said. The phone rang during the search and the number displayed matched the phone number used to set up an earlier drug sale near 90 Pearl Street in Burlington in early September, a drug task force member wrote.
Police seized more than 2 ½ ounces of suspected crack cocaine off Willis, court records show.
During a police interview, Willis admitted to being a crack cocaine smoker and said he had been selling the drug for a year, the court affidavit said.