News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 8, 2004

Burlington Man Indicted for Distribution of Heroin
and Witness Tampering

Burlington, Vermont….Mark R. Trouville, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration in New England and United States Attorney Peter W. Hall, announced today that Dylan MOBBS, of Huntington was indicted by a Federal Grand Jury in Burlington with distribution of heroin and witness tampering. The indictment further alleges that MOBBS distributed heroin to John Ratliff and that his use of heroin caused his death. John Ratliff was pronounced dead at Fletcher Allen Healthcare on March 13, 2003 after being transported there by the Richmond Rescue Squad. A subsequent autopsy found that he died of a heroin overdose. If convicted of this charge MOBBS faces a minimum term of imprisonment of 20 years and a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

The second count of the indictment alleges that MOBBS intimidated, threatened and attempted to intimidate a witness by threatening the witness with physical injury and death in order to hinder, delay and prevent this person from communicating to law enforcement the commission or possible commission of a Federal offense, namely the distribution of a controlled substance. If convicted of this offense, MOBB faces a possible 10-year jail sentence and up to a $250,000 fine.

MOBBS, who was on furlough from state prison at the time of charges in the indictment, has been in state custody since March 2003. He is expected to be arraigned on the federal charges in the near future.

The United States Attorney emphasized that the charges contained in the indictment are accusations only and the defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.

United States Attorney Peter W. Hall credited the Vermont State Police, the Richmond Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration’s HIDTA Drug Task Force for their thorough investigation of MOBBS and the circumstances surrounding John Ratliff’s death.