California Man Sentenced to 26 Months for Selling Drugs in Rutland, Vermont

BURLINGTON - The United States Attorney's Office for the District of Vermont stated that on October 26, 2026, Dejaneiro McDaniel, 21, of Bakersfield, California, was sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Christina Reiss to a term of 26 months' imprisonment to be followed by a 3-year term of supervised release. McDaniel previously pleaded guilty to distribution of cocaine base and fentanyl.

According to court records, in the Spring of 2025, McDaniel was involved with others in distributing drugs in and around Rutland, Vermont. On March 28, 2025, law enforcement conducted a controlled buy from McDaniel at an apartment in Rutland, during which the purchaser bought a gram of cocaine base and 0.75 grams of fentanyl from McDaniel. On May 8, 2025, law enforcement executed a search warrant at the same Rutland apartment. McDaniel emerged from the apartment before law enforcement began searching. Inside the apartment, law enforcement located approximately 35 grams of cocaine base, 17 grams of fentanyl, 17 grams of cocaine, and two loaded firearms.

First Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt commended the collaborative investigatory efforts of Rutland Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Vermont State Police.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Flynn. McDaniel was represented by William E. Kraham, Esq.