Jamontay Brister, a 29-year-old from Queens, New York, has been sentenced to 54 months in prison by the United States District Court in Burlington. The sentence follows his guilty plea to charges of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and cocaine and possession of a firearm as a convicted felon. Chief U.S. District Judge Christina Reiss also mandated a three-year supervised release period after Brister's prison term. He has been held without bail since his arrest last July.
Court records indicate that in June 2024, investigators from the Burlington Police Department and DEA Task Force conducted three controlled fentanyl purchases from Brister using a confidential source. In July, officers secured a warrant to search an apartment in Burlington where Brister rented a room. During the search on July 17, officers found more than 950 grams of cocaine, over 150 grams of fentanyl, approximately $10,000 in cash, and a handgun in Brister's locked bedroom. Due to a previous attempted robbery conviction in New York state, Brister is prohibited from possessing firearms.
The investigation was carried out by the Burlington Police Department’s Narcotics Unit and the DEA Task Force. Assistant Federal Public Defender Sara Puls represents Brister, while Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Waples serves as the prosecutor.
This case falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which aims to reduce violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement and communities. The Department launched an enhanced violent crime reduction strategy for PSN on May 26, 2021, focusing on community trust and legitimacy, supporting violence prevention organizations, setting strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring outcomes.
For further details about Project Safe Neighborhoods, visit Justice.gov/PSN.