New York man sentenced to 98 months for possession with intent to distribute cocaine base
BURLINGTON, Vt. – DEA New England Division Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle and the Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that Kieta Armstead was sentenced in federal court on one count of possession with intent to distribute more than 28 grams of cocaine base. Armstead -- who is 42 and formerly of New York, New York -- was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Christina Reiss to 98 months of imprisonment and four years of supervised release.
The defendant pleaded guilty pursuant to a plea agreement he entered into with the United States. As described at the defendant’s sentencing and in court records, in May 2019, Armstead came to Chittenden County, Vermont to distribute cocaine base, as well as heroin and fentanyl. In mid-May, law enforcement conducted three controlled purchases of drugs from Armstead. On May 30, 2019, officers arrested Armstead and, during a subsequent search of his hotel room, found additional quantities of heroin, fentanyl, cocaine base, and cocaine. This conviction was Armstead’s third in the District of Vermont for violating the federal Controlled Substances Act.
“Let this significant sentence serve as a warning to those traffickers who are coming from out of state like Mr. Armstead to deal these poisons to the citizens of Vermont,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle. “This investigation demonstrates the strength of collaborative law enforcement efforts in the Green Mountain State.”
U.S. Attorney Christina Nolan commended the collaborative investigation of the DEA and the Burlington Police Department. “With this significant sentence, we reiterate a simple and important message: do not come to Vermont to sell deadly drugs," said U.S. Attorney Nolan. "If you do, law enforcement will target you for criminal charges and serious consequences. This is especially true for repeat offenders.”
