United States Drug Enforcement Administration

(FAIR HAVEN, Vt. - Michael J. Ferguson, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England and the Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that Ras Foster, 25, of Brooklyn, New York has been sentenced on his conviction for distributing heroin in the Fair Haven, Vermont area. Foster previously pleaded guilty to this offense which involved selling heroin and crack cocaine in Fair Haven in March and April of 2014. One of the two charged sales took place in the parking lot of the Stewart’s convenience store.

Chief United States District Court Judge Christina Reiss sentenced Foster to 29 months imprisonment to be followed by three years of supervised release. The United States Attorney’s
Office requested a sentence of 37 months imprisonment, which was the low end of the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines. The maximum sentence for the drug distribution offense to which
Foster was convicted is 20 years.

In sentencing Foster, Judge Reiss noted that heroin is “ravaging the community” and “enslaving” addicts. Judge Reiss further stated that there needs to be significant “consequence[s]” to those who “come up to” Vermont to sell drugs.

The United States is represented in this matter by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Perella.

Foster is represented by William Christman, Esq. of St. Albans. Esq. The investigation was conducted by the Vermont State Police Drug Task Force, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.