Brooklyn, New York Man Sentenced to 52 Months Incarceration for Drug Distribution in Winooski, Vermont

Burlington, Vermont - The United States Attorney's Office for the District of Vermont stated that on November 4, 2024, Dwayne Walcott (a/k/a "Moo") of Brooklyn, New York was sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Christina Reiss to a term of 52 months' imprisonment to be followed by a 3-year term of supervised release. Walcott previously pleaded guilty to distribution of cocaine base.

According to court records, on August 9, 2023, Walcott sold cocaine base to another person inside of a residence in Winooski, Vermont. During that drug transaction, Walcott cooked cocaine from powder into cocaine base on a stove inside of the house. Investigators executed a federal search and seizure warrant at the residence on October 31, 2023 and found cocaine base, drug paraphernalia, and a shotgun inside of the residence. Walcott was arrested pursuant to a federal arrest warrant on December 19, 2023 in a hotel room in Williston, Vermont. From inside of the hotel room, law enforcement located over $8,000 in cash and drug paraphernalia.

Walcott's co-defendant, Justin Bolio, pleaded guilty to drug and firearm charges for his role in the offenses and was sentenced to time served by Chief Judge Reiss on September 16, 2024.

United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the collaborative investigatory efforts of Homeland Security Investigations, the Winooski Police Department, the Chittenden County Sheriff's Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary Stendig. Walcott was represented by Natasha Sen, 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 Justice.gov/PSN.