Roosevelt Smith, a 27-year-old from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced to 58 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release. The sentence was handed down by Chief United States District Judge Christina Reiss on December 3, 2024. Smith had previously entered a guilty plea for possession with intent to distribute cocaine base and fentanyl.
The case stems from Smith's arrest on September 21, 2023, in Burlington, Vermont. Law enforcement officials executed a search warrant at an address on North Champlain Street shortly after Smith returned from Philadelphia. The search resulted in the seizure of nearly 300 grams of cocaine base and approximately 70 grams of fentanyl. Additionally, a warranted examination of Smith's phone uncovered communications related to drug trafficking activities.
United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest acknowledged the "exceptional investigative work" conducted by both the Burlington Police Department and the Vermont State Police.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas J. Aliberti prosecuted the case, while Mark Kaplan represented Roosevelt Smith.