Four Indicted for Drug Trafficking and Firearms Offenses in Bennington County
BURLINGTON, Vt. — The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont announced that Javon Calderon (aka “Juju”) of Holyoke, Massachusetts; Christopher Morgan (aka “Mula”) of Chicopee, Massachusetts; Shavonne Doucette of Bennington, Vermont; and Kyle Winnie also of Bennington, were indicted in the District of Vermont on Nov. 29. The three-count indictment alleges that, between August and November of 2022, Calderon, Morgan, Doucette and Winnie conspired to distribute fentanyl and cocaine; Calderon and Morgan brandished a firearm in connection with that drug trafficking conspiracy; and Doucette and Winnie made their residence in Bennington available for drug trafficking. Doucette and Winnie appeared in court this afternoon for their arraignments before Chief U.S. District Judge Geoffrey Crawford. Both Doucette and Winnie pleaded not guilty and were detained pending further proceedings. Calderon and Morgan will appear for arraignment later this month.
The charges against these defendants are accusations only, and they are each presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. If convicted, each defendant would face a maximum possible penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million. For brandishing a firearm in connection with the alleged drug trafficking conspiracy, Calderon and Morgan face a mandatory minimum penalty of seven years in prison. The sentences, however, would be determined by the court with guidance from the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the governing sentencing statutes.
U.S. Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the collaborative investigative efforts of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the HSI Special Response Team, the Vermont State Police, the Bennington Police Department, the Bennington County Sheriff’s Department, the Rutland City Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The United States is represented in this matter by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Corinne Smith and Jon Ophardt. Calderon is represented by Federal Public Defender Michael L. Desautels. Morgan is represented by Peter F. Langrock, Esq. Doucette is represented by Brooks G. McArthur, Esq. Winnie is represented by Jordana M. Levine, 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.
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