Three Arrested for Drug Trafficking Following Rutland Search
RUTLAND, Vt. - The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced today that Maurice Pompey, 34, of Columbia, South Carolina, Christopher Moton, 29, of Columbia, South Carolina, and Danielle Richardson, 30, of Rutland, Vermont, were arrested on October 27, 2022 following the execution of a federal search warrant at 116 State Street, Apartment #4, in Rutland Vermont. All three defendants were charged with violating the Controlled Substances Act. Defendant Richardson appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle on October 28, 2022, and was released on conditions pending trial. Defendants Pompey and Moton appeared this afternoon before Judge Doyle for their initial appearances. Moton was detained pending trial, and the Court will hold a hearing to address the government’s motion for the detention of Pompey on November 3.
According to court records, law enforcement conducted multiple covert purchases of controlled substances from Pompey and Richardson between August and October of 2022. Both defendants were linked to 116 State Street, Apartment #4, in Rutland, Vermont. On October 24, 2022, a federal search warrant was obtained authorizing the search of the apartment. The search resulted in the seizure of two handguns and suspected cocaine base, heroin, and fentanyl. Richardson was arrested during a traffic stop and found in possession of suspected cocaine base at the time of her arrest.
The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that a criminal complaint contains allegations only and that all three defendants are presumed innocent until and unless convicted of a crime.
United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the coordinated investigatory efforts of the Rutland Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Southern Vermont Drug Task Force, the Vermont State Police, and the Manchester Police Department.
The prosecutors are Assistant United States Attorneys Zachary Stendig and Jonathan Ophardt. Pompey is represented by Richard Bothfeld, Esq. Moton is represented by Kevin Henry, Esq. Richardson is represented by the Office of the Federal Public Defender.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psn
