News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 21, 2005

Springfield Residents Indicted for Distribution of Cocaine Base

Springfield, MA... Two Springfield residents were charged Friday, November 18, 2005, in federal court with distributing crack cocaine and conspiring to distribute crack cocaine.

June W. Stansbury, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration in New England; United States Attorney Michael J. Sullivan; Kenneth W. Kaiser, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in New England; and William Fitchet, Acting Springfield Police Commissioner, announced that VDREMUS COVINGTON, age 36, of 77 Eastern Avenue, Springfield, and LUCRETTA EMANUEL, age 40, of 76 Willard Street, Springfield, were charged in an Indictment with distribution of cocaine base and conspiracy to distribute cocaine base.

The Indictment alleges that COVINGTON and EMANUEL conspired to sell cocaine base, and then sold cocaine base on January 6, 2005. In addition, the Indictment alleges that COVINGTON conspired to sell cocaine base and then sold cocaine base on August 9, 2005.

If convicted, COVINGTON faces up to life imprisonment, to be followed by 8 years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. EMANUEL faces up to 20 years' imprisonment, to be followed by 4 years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Western Massachusetts Gang Task Force, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Springfield Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Smyth in Sullivan’s Springfield Office.