July 24, 2008

ST ALBANS WOMAN SENTENCED TO SIX MONTHS HOME DETENTION AND THREE YEARS PROBATION FOR ALLOWING CRACK COCAINE TO BE SOLD FROM HER ST. ALBANS HOME

The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that on July 21, 2008, Tonyel Hotchkiss, 30, formerly of St. Albans, and currently of Burlington, was sentenced to three years probation, including six months of home detention, for her conviction under the federal crack house statute (i.e. maintaining a property for the purpose of selling drugs). The maximum penalty under this law is 20 years imprisonment and/or a $500,000 fine.

According to court records, in December of 2006 and of 2007, Lenaire Gomez and Javon Thompson both of the Bronx, New York, used Hotchkiss's apartment on Lower Weldon St. in St. Albans to sell almost 400 grams of crack cocaine. On January 27, 2007 members of the Vermont Drug Task Force executed a search warrant at Tonyel Hotchkiss's apartment. The search yielded over 40 grams of crack cocaine and just under $8,000 in cash. Gomez, Hotchkiss, and Thompson were initially charged by the Franklin County States Attorney's Office but were subsequently indicted by a Federal Grand Jury. Thompson was previously sentenced to five years imprisonment and Gomez was sentenced to two years in jail.

The United States requested the Court to sentence Hotchkiss to a term of imprisonment. Judge Sessions relying, in part, on Hotchkiss' extraordinary rehabilitation and family circumstances determined that a three-year term of probation was appropriate.

This case was investigated by the Northern Vermont Drug Task Force. The prosecution of the case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Perella. Hotchkiss was represented by David Kirby, Esq. Of Burlington, Vermont.