Man jailed in Oak Street drug case | The Brattleboro Reformer

By Mike Donoghue, Reformer correspondent

BURLINGTON — A Brattleboro man who officials say allowed his Oak Street apartment to become the hub of a major drug distribution business was jailed Friday after a federal magistrate ruled the defendant violated his release conditions.

Francis “Peanut” Macie, 44, is charged with knowingly renting, using and making available an apartment at 33 Oak St. in Brattleboro for the unlawful purpose of distributing and using heroin, fentanyl and crack cocaine between December 2018 and Feb. 28, court records show.

Macie was initially detained after a February drug raid, but his defense lawyer won his release by enrolling the defendant at Valley Vista, a drug treatment facility in Bradford.

Macie then used a bag of heroin on March 22 while traveling to Valley Vista to begin his residential substance abuse treatment, according to a report by Probation Officer Shawna Lapierre.

Federal Magistrate John M. Conroy said the report also showed Macie had missed group meetings and was not fully engaged at Valley Vista.

Conroy issued an arrest warrant at the request of prosecutors late Thursday. U.S. Deputy Marshals drove to Bradford on Friday to take Macie out of Valley Vista and bring him before Conroy.

Prosecutors asked for the sealing of the motion and arrest warrant to ensure Macie did not try to flee before he could be arrested.

Macie was due for release on Monday from Valley Vista with credit for only partial completion of the program, court records show.

During the hearing Friday afternoon, defense lawyer John Claude Charbonneau of Rutland said his client would admit to violating his conditions of release.

Conroy ordered deputy marshals to take Macie to jail after Charbonneau said the defense was not prepared to offer a new release plan. The former federal prosecutor said he would not rule out asking for reconsideration.

The previous plan for Macie, after completing the Valley Vista program, was to live at a house on School Street in Brattleboro until a sober house bed became available through the Phoenix House Rise Program or Brattleboro Retreat, court records show.

The Oak Street apartment house has been a nuisance and health concern according to local officials and neighbors, who complained about the constant foot traffic.

The Vermont Drug Task Force, Brattleboro Police, the FBI and other agencies began an elaborate joint investigation that has netted federal charges against at least five defendants.

One major player is Chyquan “Cash” Cupe, 21, of Hartford, Conn., who is facing federal charges for one count of distributing fentanyl and two counts of distributing crack cocaine. He has pleaded not guilty.

Also arrested were: Desiree Wells-Cooper, 34, on charges of knowingly and intentionally distributing fentanyl on Feb. 15 and 25; Linda Wainwright, 41, on charges of knowingly and intentionally distributing heroin and fentanyl on Feb. 20 and 22; and Juan Sanchez Jr., 20, on a charge of knowingly and intentionally possessing with an intent to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine on Feb. 28.

They also have denied all criminal charges.