by Guy Page

Cops working the Northeast Kingdom EB-5 fraud, two drug trafficking related murders, and a family murder for insurance money received awards for their outstanding work last week.

November 8, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Vermont honored individuals from many law enforcement agencies at the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Law Enforcement Awards Ceremony.

Investigative Excellence Award: recipients whose actions led directly to an arrest of a dangerous subject or to the exposure of a significant criminal or civil conspiracy.  

Lieutenant Frank Scalise, Milton Police Department and former Drug Enforcement Administration Task Force Officer – nominated for United States v. Deamontae Luchie, et al. Luchie, of Detroit, MI, was sentenced last November for selling heroin and fentanyl in Burlington. 

Deputy Marshal Max Galusha, United States Marshals Service – nominated for United States v. Lisa Miller, et al. Miller pleaded guilty to international parental kidnapping in February, 2022. 

Detective Sergeant Ashley “Skip” Barnes, Vermont State Police – nominated for United States v. Krystal Whitcomb, et al. Whitcomb, 28, formerly of Waterford, and others were indicted for the drug-trafficking related 2020 murder of Michael Pimental.

Investigative Achievement Award: This award is for those individuals, both sworn and non-sworn who have significantly contributed to the mission of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Special Agent Jennie Emmons, Federal Bureau of Investigation 

Special Agent John Schroeder, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation

Special Agent Anders Ostrum, Internal Revenue Service -Criminal Investigation

Resident Agent in Charge Derek Roy, Food and Drug Administration-Office of Criminal Investigations

All nominated for United States v. Ariel Quiros, William Kelly, and William Stenger. Quiros, 66, of Puerto Rico, and formerly of Key Biscayne, Florida, was sentenced in  2022 to 60 months in prison in connection with his involvement in the AnC Vermont EB-5 investment project. 

Outstanding Collaborative Investigation Award: recipients have demonstrated outstanding efforts to overcome significant challenges in collaboration with multiple agencies in order to meet the mission of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Special Agent Eric Boyce, Federal Bureau of Investigation

Analyst Virginia Churchill, Federal Bureau of Investigation

Special Agent Stephanie Dubuc, Federal Bureau of Investigation

Special Agent Jennie Emmons, Federal Bureau of Investigation

Special Agent Eric Gempp, United States Coast Guard Investigative Service

Special Agent Michael Jankowiak, Federal Bureau of Investigation

Special Agent Lisa Tutty, Federal Bureau of Investigation

Special Agent Kellie Senecal, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

All nominated for outstanding collaborative investigation in United States v. Nathan Carman. Carman, 28, of Vernon, was arrested on May 10, 2022, pursuant to an eight-count indictment charging him with the 2016 murder of his mother, Linda Carman, on the high seas, and related frauds to obtain family and insurance funds.

Special Agent Samuel Brown, on behalf of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, an Detective Eric Dalla Mura, on behalf of the Burlington Police Department, both nominated as their agency representatives for outstanding collaborative investigation in United States v. Lesine Woodson, et al.    

Authorities say that in late 2018, Lesine Woodson came to Vermont from Orlando, Florida, to sell cocaine base in partnership with Benzel Hampton, who was also from Orlando. Shortly after arriving in Vermont, Woodson refused to use the profits of the partnership’s drug sales to pay Hampton’s bail after Hampton was arrested and then attempted to take over the business of selling to Hampton’s Burlington-area drug customers. Woodson’s actions started a feud between she and Hampton, eventually leading to the murder of Hampton.