Date: 03-05-2025

Case Style:

United States of America v. Christopher Purvis; Russell Mitchell; Tyler Orvis ;Alexis Sutton; Dorothy Wilde; Alexis Sutton

Case Number:

Judge: Christina Reiss

Court: The United States District Court for the District of Vermont (Chittenden County()

Plaintiff's Attorney: The United States Attorney’s Office for Burlington

Defendant's Attorney:

Click Here For The Best Burlington, Vermont Criminal Defense Lawyer Directory

Description:

Burlington, Vermont criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendants charged with drug distribution conspiracy
Six Defendants Sentenced for Drug Conspiracy Related to 2022 Fentanyl and Cocaine Trafficking in Chittenden County and Elsewhere

The final defendants convicted in connection with a Chittenden County drug distribution conspiracy, were sentenced in United States District Court for the District of Vermont.

From October 2022 through December 30, 2022, Christopher Purvis was the manager of a conspiracy to distribute cocaine and fentanyl in Burlington, and elsewhere around Chittenden County. The conspiracy used a residence belonging to Tyler Orvis in Milton, Vermont to store drug packaging materials. As part of the investigation into the operation, on December 6, 2022, in Jericho, Vermont, law enforcement seized fentanyl, cocaine, and a firearm from Russell Mitchell, Alexis Sutton, and Dorothy Wilde. Records also indicate Sierra Fuentes sold drugs and transported proceeds in furtherance of the conspiracy.

Chief United States District Judge Christina Reiss imposed the following sentences, which were advised by the United States Sentencing Guidelines:

Christopher Purvis – 72 months followed by 5 years of supervised release;
Russell Mitchell – 54 months followed by 3 years of supervised release (later commuted to 20 months by executive order);
Tyler Orvis – Time Served (approximately 24 months) followed by 6 years of supervised release;
Dorothy Wilde – Time Served (approximately 8 months) followed by 3 years of supervised release; and
Alexis Sutton – 6 months followed by 6 years of supervised release.
United States District Judge Mae D’Agostino imposed the following sentence, which was advised by the United States Sentencing Guidelines:

Sierra Fuentes – Time Served (approximately 14 months) followed by 3 years of supervised release.
Acting United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher thanked the DEA Burlington, Vermont Office, and acknowledged significant assistance from the Milton Police Department, the Lamoille County Sheriff’s Department, the Morristown Police Department, the DEA Hartford, Connecticut Office, the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General, the Massachusetts State Police and the Massachusetts Bureau of Prisons.

Assistant United States Attorney Zachary Stendig handled the case for the Government. Mark Kaplan, Esq. represented Tyler Orvis, Federal Public Defender Michael Desautels represented Christopher Purvis, Richard Bothfeld, Esq. represented Alexis Sutton, John Mabie, Esq. represented Dorothy Wilde, and William A. Vasiliou, II, Esq. represented Sierra Fuentes.

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.

Outcome:

Defendants were found guilty and Christopher Purvis – 72 months followed by 5 years of supervised release; Russell Mitchell – 54 months followed by 3 years of supervised release (later commuted to 20 months by executive order); Tyler Orvis – Time Served (approximately 24 months) followed by 6 years of supervised release; Alexis Sutton – 6 months followed by 6 years of supervised release. Sierra Fuentes – Time Served (approximately 14 months) followed by 3 years of supervised release.

Plaintiff's Experts:

Defendant's Experts:

Comments: