Federal authorities have arrested five out-of-state suspects as part of more than a $500,000 fraud perpetrated on banks and credit unions throughout Vermont and the Northeast.  

The week’s incidents are a reminder of the steady, often difficult work of keeping Vermont’s communities safe.

Vermont State Police Drug Task Force detectives and the Tactical Services Unit executed a search warrant at a Johnson residence on June 2, arresting James Mason, 47, and Danarius Davis, 23, on a slate of drug charges that includes fentanyl trafficking, cocaine sales, and conspiracy.

When the search was complete, they had recovered approximately 34.9 grams of cocaine and crack cocaine, 2.4 grams of methamphetamine, 448.3 grams of suspected LSD, and a small amount of cash. The case is being handled by Cpl. Gaylord.

A state judge jailed a St. Albans woman on Thursday for several hours as she continued her refusal to turn over the passcode to her cellphone that she was using the day of a fatal motor vehicle crash with two motorcyclists on Father’s Day last year.

$$ from Chinese fraudsters, Newport defense firm, Winooski pornster, Rutland embezzler goes to victims 

Vermont State Police say they have new evidence that a Rutland County man arrested on a misdemeanor stalking charge, also was illegally pursuing a separate victim under the age of 16.

A pickup truck crashed the Colchester Burger King Sunday morning. 

Peter Booth, 58, the vice chairman of the Jericho selectboard, Henry Prensky, 79, of Burlington, Aiden Balentine, 39, of Montpelier and Casey Seem, 20, of Oakham, Mass. They are due in state criminal court in Burlington on June 30. For Booth and Prensky it was the second time arrested for a similar blockade at a building containing a support office for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, state police said.

Joshua P. Bedard, 38, is named in a criminal complaint in federal court with drug distribution in Windham County in April, but his business operated as far north as the White River Junction region, according to records.

The department said the detection of a rabid animal indicates the virus is circulating among wildlife in the greater Westmore area.

Case will be held in Franklin County

Biden gave pass to major drug dealer/tax cheat in Vermont

The incident, first reported in early May, has raised serious concerns for families and schools in the Green Mountain State, where Canvas serves as a primary platform for online learning, course management, and communication at higher education institutions and through virtual learning programs. The deadline for the data ransom is May 12.

Seven more Canadians, wanted in Vermont on federal charges as part of a multi-million “Grandparent Scam” that targeted vulnerable elderly people, have been arrested in Quebec on a new fraud indictment, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Burlington said Friday.

A Massachusetts man, wanted for a murder charge in his home state from last month, was arrested in North Springfield by federal, state and local law enforcement officials from two states on Thursday. The U.S. Marshals Service in Vermont and Massachusetts said Daniel Medina, 22, who has a documented history of firearm-related offenses, was apprehended about 3 p.m.

Over a pound of crack cocaine seized

The Wellesley, Mass. mother, who is charged with strangling to death her two young children and leaving them in her bed, is expected back in the Commonwealth today to face two murder charges.

The bust is the latest evidence of drug activity at Barre Manor. Longtime residents say the federally-subsidzed housing is a ‘trap house’ – where residents with money and or/drug problems allow out-of-state drug dealers to live there and play their deadly trade.

Two Franklin County teens are facing court action after they were clocked driving 100 miles per hour or more on Interstate 89 in unrelated incidents on Sunday, Vermont State Police said.

A ransomware attack last fall exposed the Social Security numbers and financial data of 1,757 Vermont residents who stayed at or worked for the Vergennes resort.

Charged with trying to kill Grand Isle County deputy sheriff

Cpl. Jeffery Barriger, 42, of the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department remains in critical but stable condition at the intensive care unit at the University of Vermont Medical Center.  A spokesman said he sustained serious head, brain and bodily injuries when he landed on the road after being dragged.  Court records also show he has a right eye fracture, blood in both ears, a fracture behind one ear, was vomiting blood and had an epidermal hematoma – a critical pooling of blood by the skull.

Avoids death penalty; gets 3 life sentences

Charged with strangulation deaths of her two children, ages 6 & 7

Individuals at the Dorset Street incident repeatedly stated that State’s Attorney George would not prosecute them for their behavior that day.

South Burlington Police said they received a report of shots fired at about 7:23 p.m. Officers arrived within two minutes, but all individuals involved had already left the scene. A short time later, a victim connected to the incident arrived at University of Vermont Medical Center with an apparent gunshot wound. Authorities said the injuries were not life-threatening.

Brother died in gang-related homicide in Burlington in 2022

The incident shows the need for a bill, now in Senate Judiciary, that would streamline eviction of dangerous tenants.

Under the 13-page signed plea agreement filed Thursday, Bland admits to causing the deaths of both Solomon and White during a drug trafficking crime on Oct. 12, 2023. Both criminal charges carry life sentences. He also has admitted to carrying and using a gun on Oct. 14, 2023 during a drug trafficking crime, which calls for a consecutive life sentence, the plea agreement notes.

George Ellis Phelps, 43, was convicted April 1, in Caledonia Superior Court after entering a guilty plea to cocaine sale or delivery of 2.5 grams or more and fentanyl trafficking.

Marlin Morton, formerly of St. Albans, was driving westbound on Vermont 78 when his 2012 Jeep Liberty went off the road about 5:35 p.m., village police said. Sgt. Kyle Gagne said the Jeep struck a tree and landed upright in the Missisquoi River.

Two Connecticut men have been indicted on federal drug charges after U.S. Border Patrol agents say the pair fled a traffic stop near the Canadian border and tossed a bag containing fentanyl, cocaine and cocaine base from their vehicle.

The victim’s mother wrote that S.193 “missed crossover after valuable committee time was spent on the Burlington ICE hearing instead of advancing time-sensitive public safety legislation.”

Jeffrey Baur, 34, of St. Albans is due for arraignment Friday in Vermont Superior Court in Burlington, state police said.

Three stores targeted in weeks

Second time in three days.

Following an investigation, troopers arrested Malik O. Hardy, 25, of Bennington, on charges including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated stalking with a deadly weapon, reckless endangerment, grossly negligent operation, criminal threatening, and disorderly conduct.

An autopsy of a homicide in the Northeast Kingdom town of Brownington was completed Thursday, March 19 at the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office in Burlington. The Vermont State Police is able to identify the victim as Alton Wheeler, 79, of Brownington.

Reports and online reviews raise concerns about illicit activity

Ariana Rodger, 43, was taken into custody late March 18 in connection with the death of a man found at a residence on Willoughby Lake Road. She has been charged with second-degree murder, first-degree aggravated domestic assault, and violation of conditions of release.

Anyone who receives a suspicious email or phone call claiming to be from a Vermont state agency should not click any links, open attachments, or respond to the message.

Brittney Roberts, also known as Brittney Metivier, 36, of Barre, was arraigned March 5 in Vermont Superior Court on one felony count of fraud or deceit involving a regulated drug.

State fire safety officials revoked occupancy in residence.

Police say the suspect is believed to have entered apartments in a 55-and-older residential community and taken property belonging to residents.

Deputy sheriff continues to recover from injuries

Driver flees, but caught in Grand Isle 

A federal court jury convicted Dominique “Wop” Troupe, 39, of Bay Road on four felony drug, gun and robbery charges following a six-day trial in Rutland in May 2024. Troupe helped plan the robbery in Swanton four years ago and reportedly had told the two gunmen he recruited for the case that nobody was supposed to be injured, prosecutors have said.  The armed robbery for the drugs went sideways. Elijah Oliver, 22, of Haverhill, Mass. died from two gunshots inside the residence at 45 First St. in Swanton about 4:35 a.m. Feb. 2, 2022, Vermont State Police said.

Vermont State Police have identified the victim of a fatal Valentine’s Day shooting during what was initially reported as an apparent domestic dispute in the town of Corinth in Orange County.

The Grand Isle County Sheriff’s Department said local, state and federal investigators raided the home of Kevin Manning, 42, of Lake Drive on Friday evening and seized stolen property.

In a news release, BPD said it responded to the burglary on Feb. 4. Among the items stolen was a large amount of loose change. BPD received a tip that Thomasina Howard was at Hannaford emptying a large amount of coins from a backpack into a coin exchange machine. When police arrived, they found she had exchanged nearly $450.

Six people have been arrested in Windsor County on various criminal charges involving multiple kidnapping counts, aggravated assault and heroin trafficking as part of a brutal abduction that crossed state lines and included burning the victim repeatedly with a heated knife and using hydrogen peroxide to waterboard her, court records show.

A 26-year-old Glover man was arrested early Sunday morning following a series of alleged vehicle-related crimes that began at a nursing home parking lot and ended with his capture at a nearby residence, according to Vermont State Police.

Dead are: Kendall Lemay, 38, of Cadyville, N.Y., a driver, and Jacob Rivers, 41, of Plattsburgh, N.Y., a front seat passenger, police said.

Milton resident still recovering from shooting

Just off court supervision for Central Vermont drug case

Killer will remain on state probation after for life after prison

Harley Breer Jr., 56, who public safety officials consider “one of the most dangerous criminals in the state,” was denied release from prison by the Vermont Parole Board on Thursday. His adult criminal record, which began when he was 18, includes 25 felony arrests with 14 convictions, parole board records show. Breer also has 47 misdemeanor arrests with 11 convictions, they noted.

Vermont police say that the likelihood of DUI crashes is twice as likely when the driver is under the influence of drugs, compared to alcohol.

U.S. Homeland Security Investigations began an investigation after learning Reginald Adam Velasquez, 33, attempted to buy a Glock .40-caliber pistol from a federally licensed gun dealer in Barre on Nov. 14, court records show.  He listed his Bradford address on the form and not the more recent Barre residence, records show.

Douglas Reynolds, 37, tried to outrun the marshals service in his black Volkswagen Jetta at speeds over 100 miles per hour, but eventually ran out of gasoline in Ryegate during the pursuit on Oct. 24, 2024, officials said.

Anthony T. Seagroves, 34, was ordered to serve a 26-month prison term on Friday for having a loaded privately made firearm — also known as a “ghost gun” — in downtown Burlington on Oct. 14, 2024.

Police say the burglary occurred on November 28, at about 12:57 a.m. at the Cambridge Village Market on South Main Street in Cambridge. Following an investigation, troopers developed probable cause that Ian Gardner, 39, of Burlington committed the offenses of burglary, grand larceny, unlawful mischief and possession of stolen property.

A former Stowe resident has pleaded not guilty in federal court to a series of felony charges, including a possible death penalty case for reportedly killing two out-of-state drug dealers in the Northeast Kingdom in 2023.

State Police arrested a Massachusetts man early Sunday after he allegedly threatened troopers with an axe and chainsaw.

In addition to the 120-month prison term, Judge Vyskocil ordered 10 years of supervised release after McGrath completes his sentence.

A longtime South Burlington man, who received a 20-month federal prison sentence in 2023 for intimidating phone calls to Vermont criminal justice officials, is back in trouble – this time for state charges of stalking and criminal threatening Middlebury College employees.

Second case by Justice Department in as many months

Patrick Cota, 32, sped away from both the Addison County Sheriff’s Department and the Middlebury Police on Friday during separate incidents in Salisbury and Middlebury, officials said.