United States Drug Enforcement Administration

BURLINGTON, Vt. – DEA New England Division Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle and The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that Korey Stewart, aka “Skip,” “Dash,” “Slim,” “Gutta,” and “Corey Adams,” 37 years old, was sentenced last week to 110 months of imprisonment for conspiring to distribute heroin, fentanyl, cocaine, and cocaine base, and conspiring to launder the proceeds of drug trafficking. U.S. District Judge Christina Reiss also sentenced Stewart to a four-year term of supervised release to follow his imprisonment. In addition, the defendant agreed not to contest the forfeiture of $19,510 seized during the investigation.  

According to court documents, between approximately 2015 and March of 2018, Stewart conspired with numerous other people to distribute heroin, fentanyl, cocaine, and cocaine base in Vermont, Maine, Connecticut, and elsewhere. Stewart utilized couriers to transport drugs and bulk currency, and “runners” (typically addicted individuals) to distribute drugs on his behalf. Stewart also utilized bank accounts for the funneling of proceeds, requiring “runners” and others to make deposits of drug proceeds into a bank account controlled by his girlfriend and co-conspirator, Amber Williams-Eason. Stewart utilized different aliases in different states, and made frequent use of false identification documents to evade arrest on an outstanding parole violation warrant originally issued in 2012.  

Stewart was arrested by agents of the US Drug Enforcement Administration in Bangor, Maine on March 15, 2018, in possession of a cellular phone that was being intercepted pursuant to a federal wiretap order. Simultaneous to his arrest, agents executed a search warrant at Stewart’s residence in Danbury, Connecticut, seizing numerous cellular phones Stewart had utilized during the three-year conspiracy to organize the drug trafficking organization.  

At sentencing, Judge Reiss found that defendant Stewart acted as an organizer and leader of the conspiracy that involved five or more individuals, and found that Stewart committed the drug trafficking offense as part of a pattern of criminal conduct engaged in as a livelihood. Financial records and cash seizures revealed Stewart grossed at least $219,000 from his drug distribution activities over the three-year conspiracy.   

“DEA is committed to investigating and dismantling Poly Drug Trafficking Organizations like this one headed by Mr. Stewart, who are coming from out of state and responsible for distributing lethal drugs like fentanyl and heroin to the citizens of Vermont,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle. “Illegal drug distribution ravages the very foundations of our families and communities so every time we take these poisons off the streets, lives are saved. This investigation demonstrates the strength of collaborative local, state and federal law enforcement efforts and our strong partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.”   

United States Attorney Christina E. Nolan commended the investigative efforts of the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Burlington Police Department, and thanked the Vermont State Police, the Winooski Police Department, the South Burlington Police Department, the New Hampshire State Police, and the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency for their assistance. Nolan added: “As this case demonstrates, we will continue to work together at all levels of law enforcement to bring serious consequences to those who profit on the backs of struggling Vermont addicts and their families and communities. Those who line their pockets in the business of addiction are responsible for death and great suffering in Vermont. We will continue to advocate serious jail sentences for those who engage in this grave offense, and we will collaborate with our law enforcement partners to hold them accountable.”  

Burlington Police Chief Jennifer Morrison stated, “Taking high level distributors off the street is paramount to safe communities. Those who profit at the expense of addicted Vermonters must be held accountable. Complex cases like this can only be solved by teamwork and cross-jurisdictional communication. This case represents a strong effort by many law enforcement partners.”