WASHINGTON, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont announced that Nicole LeClair, 34, of Washington, Vermont, and Christopher Emmons, 51, of Washington, Vermont, were arrested today during search warrants at their residences. LeClair was charged with distributions of controlled substances that occurred at her home. Emmons was charged with knowingly allowing his residence to be a drug-taking venue in which controlled substances were distributed. Both defendants are scheduled to appear before U.S. Chief District Judge Geoffrey Crawford on Monday afternoon.

According to court records, during the months of March and April 2022, law enforcement made controlled purchases of heroin/fentanyl and cocaine base from LeClair at his residence. LeClair used her Facebook Messenger account to arrange transactions from her home. A special agent from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives obtained a search warrant for LeClair’s residence, which was executed today. During the search, law enforcement seized approximately 170 bags of suspected fentanyl, 5 grams of suspected base cocaine and an SCCY semi-automatic pistol.

According to court records, during the months of March and April 2022, law enforcement made controlled purchases of heroin/fentanyl and cocaine base at Emmons’ residence. Law enforcement identified Justin Llano, aka “TJ”, and Glendon Parrish-Cambell, aka “B”, as drug dealers distributing heroin/fentanyl and cocaine from Emmons’ residence. Emmons was present during multiple controlled purchases made at his home. On one occasion in March, a confidential informant attempted to purchase drugs from Emmons’ residence. During the attempted transaction, Emmons reported to IC that the drug dealers left the residence because law enforcement was conducting traffic checks in the area. A special agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives obtained a search warrant for Emmons’ property, which was executed today. During the search, law enforcement seized 14 firearms (including a sawed-off shotgun), approximately 28 grams of suspected base cocaine, and approximately 400 bags of suspected fentanyl.

Both Llano and Parrish-Cambell have been charged in a criminal complaint but remain free. Federal arrest warrants have been issued for both men.

The United States Attorney’s Office points out that a criminal complaint contains only allegations and that LeClair, Emmons, Llano and Parrish-Cambell are presumed innocent until and unless they are convicted of a crime .

United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest praised the collaborative investigative efforts of the Vermont Drug Task Force, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. U.S. Air and Navy Customs and Border Protection, Homeland Security Investigations, Vermont State Police, Montpelier Police Department, City Police Department de Barre and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office provided vital assistance in executing today’s search warrants.

Prosecutors are Assistant United States Attorney Andrew Gilman and Jonathan Ophardt. LeClair is represented by Natasha Sen, Esq. Emmons is represented by Mark Oettinger, Esq. Llano and Parrish-Cambell have not yet retained or been appointed attorneys.

The case is being prosecuted under the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program, the centerpiece of the Justice Department’s violent crime reduction efforts. The NSP is an evidence-based program that has been shown to be effective in reducing violent crime. Through the PSN, a wide range of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime issues in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, the PSN focuses its law enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with local prevention and rehabilitation programs for sustained crime reduction https://www.justice.gov/ psn