United States Drug Enforcement Administration

BURLINGTON, Vt. – The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that on May 31, 2023, a federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment against John Muzzy, 32, of Fair Haven, Vermont, and Rebecca Ross, 39, also of Fair Haven, Vermont. The indictment charges Muzzy with three counts of distribution, and aiding and abetting the distribution of cocaine base, and one count of being a user of unlawful controlled substances in possession of a firearm. Ross is charged in one count of distribution of cocaine base. Muzzy will be arraigned on the indictment on June 2, 2023, and Ross will be arraigned on June 5, 2023. Both hearings will be before Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle.

According to court records and proceedings, in September 2022, a confidential source (CS) told the Vermont Drug Task Force (VDTF) that they could buy cocaine base from Muzzy. Thereafter, on September 23, 2022 and October 27, 2022, the CS purchased cocaine base from Muzzy. The CS negotiated with Muzzy a third time to buy cocaine base, on May 3, 2023. When the CS went to Muzzy’s residence to make the purchase, the CS purchased the drugs from Ross instead of Muzzy, who told the CS that “I’m the businesswoman” when the CS said that they wanted to deal with Muzzy. 

On May 19, 2023, VDTF executed a search warrant at the residence where Muzzy and Ross lived in Fair Haven. During the search, approximately 20 firearms and a quantity of cocaine base was seized. Muzzy was located at the property in a vehicle in which cocaine base and two firearms were found. Muzzy admitted to being a drug user and said that the cocaine base and firearms found in the vehicle were his. Ross was also arrested during execution of the search. She admitted to distributing drugs for money.

U.S. Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the efforts of the Vermont Drug Task Force, the Vermont State Police, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Fair Haven, Vermont Police Department in the investigation of Muzzy and Ross. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Barbara A. Masterson is handling the prosecution of Muzzy and Ross. Muzzy is represented by Assistant Federal Public Defender Steven L. Barth and Ross is represented by Karen R. Shingler, Esq. 

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 https://www.justice.gov/psn