Rutland Women Charged In Crack Cocaine Conspiracy

The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that Sherry Flower, 48, of Rutland, Vermont has been charged in a three-count Indictment with one count of conspiring to distribute crack cocaine and two counts of distributing crack cocaine in the Rutland area. At an arraignment in Burlington before Magistrate Judge John Conroy, Flower pled not guilty to the charges. Magistrate Judge Conroy ordered her detained without bail in light of her criminal record and substance abuse issues. In 2003 Flower was convicted in U.S. District Court of conspiring to distribute cocaine base and was sentenced to 36 months imprisonment by Judge William K. Sessions III.

The United States Attorney emphasizes that the charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations and that the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until she is proven guilty. If she is convicted, Flower faces a maximum possible term of imprisonment of twenty years.

The United States is represented in this matter by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Perella and Flower is represented by Lisa Shelkrot, Esq. The investigation was conducted by the Vermont State Police Drug Task Force, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.