Holyoke Man Sentenced For Vermont Violent Drug Trafficking

Friday, January 3, 2025, 6:45 A.M. ET. 2 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,

BURLINGTON, VT.- U.S. Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest reported, on Monday, December 23, 2024, that Javon Calderon, 21, of Holyoke, Massachusetts, appeared in the U.S. District Court for the District of Vermont and was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Christina Reiss to 85 months in federal prison, to be followed by eight years of supervised release for his previously entered guilty plea to federal narcotics violations.

     Calderon previously appeared before Judge Reiss and pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl; Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine; and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime.

According To The U.S. Attorney’s Office

     According to charging information filed with the District Court, Calderon and co-defendant Christopher Morgan spent a significant amount of time in Bennington, Vermont, in 2022, distributing fentanyl and cocaine throughout the area. During that time, Calderon and Morgan stayed with co-defendants and Bennington, Vermont residents Shavonne Doucette and Kyle Winnie. Calderon and Morgan also employed local residents to sell drugs for them. At times, Doucette and Winnie also, at times, sold fentanyl and cocaine for the two.

     In September 2022, inside Douchette’s and Winnie’s Bennington home, Calderon and Morgan threatened with handguns and assaulted one of their local distributors over an outstanding drug debt. Portions of the assault were captured on video and depicted Calderon striking and threatening the drug distributor, holding a firearm to his neck while making threats. 

     The video also depicted Morgan pointing a firearm at the drug distributor and threatening to shoot him. The distributor sustained severe injuries to his head, requiring staples to close the wound.

     Like Calderon, Morgan has pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl; Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine; and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime, and is awaiting sentencing which has been scheduled for March 13, 2025.

     Douchette and Winnie have also pleaded guilty to allowing their residence to be utilized for fentanyl and cocaine distribution. Douchette’s sentencing is scheduled for January 21, 2025, and Winnie’s is scheduled for February 18, 2025.

     U.S. Attorney Kerest commended the investigative work of Homeland Security Investigations, Homeland Security Investigations Special Response Team, the Vermont State Police, the Bennington Police Department, the Bennington County Sheriff’s Department, the Rutland City Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.