Hartford Man Charged In Vermont Drug Ring

BURLINGTON, VT./HARTFORD, CT – Several defendants, including a Hartford, Conn., man have been charged by federal authorities as part of a cocaine/fentanyl distribution ring out of Vermont.

The United States Attorney’s Office in Vermont said six defendants have been indicted in Burlington, Vt., on charges of conspiring to distribute cocaine and fentanyl.

Specifically, those charged are: Tyler Orvis, 40, of Milton, Vt.; Christopher Purvis, 27, of Hartford, Conn.; Alexis Sutton, 23 of Windsor, Conn.; Russell Mitchell, 26, of Chesapeake, Va.; Sierra Fuentes, 30, of Bristol, Conn.; and Dorothy Wilde, 55, of Hyde Park, Vt.

To date, all six defendants have been arraigned.

Most recently, Purvis appeared in the District of Vermont on Oct. 4.

Previously, on Aug. 11, Orvis pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine and fentanyl.

Orvis is detained pending sentencing, which is scheduled for Dec. 5.

Purvis, Mitchell, Fuentes and Wilde are detained pending trial. Sutton was released on conditions. A trial date has not yet been set.

According to court records, from September 2022 through December 30, 2022, the conspiracy involved the distribution of cocaine and fentanyl in Burlington, Vt., and elsewhere.

The defendants also used a residence in Milton, Vt., to store drug packaging materials, federal officials said.

As presently charged, if convicted, the six defendants face a maximum possible penalty of 20 years in prison and fines of up to $1,000,000.

The actual sentence, however, would be determined by the federal district court.

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