Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont announced that Stephanie Horvath, 39, from Rutland, Vermont, was sentenced to 29 months in prison on November 21, 2024. Chief United States District Judge Christina Reiss also imposed a three-year term of supervised release following her imprisonment. Horvath had previously admitted to distributing cocaine base to a law enforcement confidential informant in June 2023 in Rutland.
Court records revealed that from 2017-18 until her arrest in August 2023, Horvath facilitated drug sales for various armed and dangerous suppliers. She was involved in distributing cocaine base and heroin/fentanyl at the Highlander Motel in Rutland during 2022 and 2023. Horvath distributed drugs herself and also used others to distribute from her hotel room. The investigation leading to her arrest included five controlled purchases by the Vermont State Police’s Drug Task Force between December 2022 and June 2023 involving her room. Records further indicate that in November 2022, a large supply of cocaine and heroin/fentanyl she acquired was linked to the violent assault of an associate.
United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest praised the joint efforts of the Vermont State Police’s Drug Task Force, the Rutland City Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jason Turner and Jonathan A. Ophardt, while Natasha Sen represented Horvath.