United States Drug Enforcement Administration

RUTLAND, Vt. - Michael J. Ferguson 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 Valentino Anderson, 50, of Rutland, was sentenced yesterday for his role in a conspiracy to distribute heroin and cocaine base in Vermont.  Chief United States District Judge Christina Reiss sentenced Anderson to 77 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release.

According to court records, Valentino Anderson and his wife Crystal Anderson participated in a conspiracy to distribute heroin and cocaine base during the fall 2012 time period. The evidence in the case included a March 2011 law enforcement-controlled purchase of heroin from Mr. Anderson and the seizure of approximately 23 grams of cocaine base during a car stop of the Andersons in October 2012. In connection with the car stop, Valentino Anderson admitted that he and his wife were returning from a trip to Connecticut to pick up the drugs. Mr. Anderson further admitted that he had been selling drugs for a period of months before the car stop. Mr. Anderson was also federally convicted in Vermont in 2004 of conspiracy to distribute cocaine in 2004 and was sentenced to 27 months’ imprisonment. Crystal Anderson was sentenced on August 22, 2013 to time-served and three years of supervised release.

This matter was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Vermont State Police.