Connecticut Man Sentenced to 60 Months Imprisonment for Conspiracy to Distribute Drugs in Chittenden County and Unlawful Possession of Firearms

The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that Anthony Mickens (a.k.a. “K”), 26, of Hartford, Connecticut, was sentenced yesterday to 60 months imprisonment by United States District Court Judge Christina Reiss, in U.S. District Court in Burlington, Vermont. Judge Reiss also sentenced Mickens to a three-year period of supervised release by the U.S. Probation Office, which begins when Mickens is released from prison.

Finally, the Court ordered the forfeiture of $5,592 of drug proceeds seized from Mickens at the time of his arrest.

Mickens previously pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute heroin and cocaine base and

possession of firearms by a felon. Mickens was facing a maximum sentence of twenty years imprisonment for the drug conspiracy and ten years imprisonment for the firearms offense.

According to court records, in August 2017, Mickens conspired with others to distribute

heroin and crack cocaine in Chittenden County. Mickens obtained his drugs from Connecticut.

At that time, Mickens lived at 46 Foxwood Circle in Williston and used a female drug user and other persons to sell drugs for him in Chittenden County. Mickens also unlawfully acquired two stolen .22 caliber pistols by trading heroin and crack cocaine to the thief for the guns. Given that Mickens had prior felony convictions he was prohibited from possessing any firearms.

Kelly D. Brady, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Boston Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (“ATF”), which covers all the New England states, stated: “ATF will continue to work with our state and local law enforcement counterparts, to vigorously combat drug traffickers and the threat they pose to our citizens by illegally possessing firearms in furtherance of their illegal drug trade”

The government wrote in its sentencing memorandum:

Heroin and crack cocaine are destroying lives and families in many Vermont communities. A strong message needs to continually be sent to persons, such as the defendant, who deal drugs for profit and prey on addicts, that there are

significant legal consequences for distributing these addictive poisons and acquiring firearms through drug trafficking. A 60-month sentence in the context of this case achieves that deterrence goal. U.S. Attorney Christina Nolan added:

“This case, once again, highlights the link between trafficking in dangerous drugs and gun crime. It is also an example of the success we achieve through the Vermont law enforcement model of collaboration on all levels to make communities safer. The Vermont law enforcement team will never tire in its mission to bring strong consequences to those who engage in violence and unlawfully possess firearms in connection with the drug trade.”

This case was jointly investigated by the Burlington Police Department, Williston Police Department, Winooski Police Department, Milton Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Perella is prosecuting this case case on behalf of the United States. Mickens is represented by Steven Barth, Esq., of the Federal Public Defenders Office.