United States Drug Enforcement Administration

BURLINGTON, Vt. – The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that Terrence Anderson, 56, of Burlington, Vermont was sentenced today to a 5-year term of imprisonment, following his guilty plea to possessing with intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl. Chief United States District Judge Geoffrey W. Crawford also ordered Anderson to serve a 4-year term of supervised release following his term of imprisonment.

According to court records, on January 9, 2022, Burlington Police officers responded to a 911 call during which the caller reported her boyfriend had threatened her with a gun. Responding officers encountered the caller and defendant Anderson at Anderson’s residence. Officers located a Ruger EC9S handgun inside the apartment, which the caller stated Anderson had pointed at her while threatening to shoot her. While arresting Anderson for aggravated domestic assault in the first degree, Burlington Police officers located approximately 18 grams of fentanyl packaged in 57 baggies in Anderson’s pocket. Burlington Police thereafter obtained a warrant to search Anderson’s apartment. During the search, officers located inside a safe an additional 140 grams of fentanyl, over $17,300 of cash, and assorted opiate pills. Elsewhere in the apartment, officers located a digital scale, two loaded .45 caliber handgun magazines, a money counter, and jewelry. Subsequent investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration resulted in the seizure of approximately $194,000 of cash from two safe deposit boxes rented in Anderson’s name at local banks. Agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration also seized two additional handguns and approximately $16,000 in cash from storage units rented by Anderson. In total, law enforcement seized over $243,000 of cash, high-end jewelry, approximately 158 grams of fentanyl, three firearms, and dozens of rounds of ammunition.

United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest stated, “I commend the Burlington Police Department for their excellent work responding to the domestic violence perpetrated by Terrence Anderson. The Drug Enforcement Administration also did great work investigating and seizing Anderson’s guns, drugs, and proceeds of drug trafficking. The combination of domestic violence, drug trafficking, and illegal firearm possession in this case is appalling. This office, along with our law enforcement partners will continue our dogged efforts to disrupt these kinds of illegal behavior throughout Vermont.”

The prosecutors were Assistant United States Attorneys Zachary B. Stendig and Jonathan A. Ophardt. Anderson was represented by Assistant Federal Defender Mary Nerino, Esq.

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 Justice.gov/PSN.