United States of America v. Robert J. Rideout

Rutland, Vermont criminal defense lawyer represented defendant charged with knowingly possessing with intent to distribute cocaine.



On July 14, 2021, agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), in conjunction with the Vermont State Police (VSP), stopped Robert J. Rideout, 59, fomerly from Winooski, Vermont, along Interstate 89 in Vermont while he was driving back from Springfield, Massachusetts. Investigators located and seized a backpack containing approximately 1.5 kilograms of cocaine and over 4,500 "tickets” (individual glassine baggies) that contained approximately 130 grams of fentanyl in total. Rideout, in conjunction with another individual, had acquired the controlled substances in Springfield and was transporting them back to Burlington. Rideout intended to transfer a substantial portion of the controlled substances to a third individual in the Burlington area upon his return. The other two individuals are charged in a separate federal case that currently remains pending.



United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the joint efforts of HSI and VSP—as well as the assistance of the Berlin Police Department, the South Burlington Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the United States Marshals Service—in the investigation and prosecution of Rideout and others in the case.



Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Lasher prosecuted the case for the United States. Assistant Federal Public Defender Sara Puls represented Rideout.



21:841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(B).F NARCOTICS - POSSESSION - knowingly possessed with intent to distribute cocaine

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Defendant was sentenced to 60 months in prison, followed by 60 months of supervised release.