Akeem Bethea-harris Of Philadelphia Sentenced To Five Years For Possession With Intent To Distribute Crack Cocaine

The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that, on June 16, 2014, Akeem Bethea-Harris, 26, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to five years in federal prison after his guilty plea to a charge that he possessed crack cocaine with intent to distribute it. Chief United States District Judge Christina Reiss, sitting in Rutland, also ordered that Bethea-Harris serve four years of supervised release following his prison term.

According to court records, Bethea-Harris’s criminal history includes a felony for possession of a firearm without a license, three felony drug convictions, and several probation violations. On May 2, 2013, investigators with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Federal Bureau of Investigation observed Bethea-Harris get off a Greyhound bus at the Burlington International Airport. Bethea-Harris was wearing unusually heavy clothing for a very warm day.  Agents encountered Bethea-Harris in Colchester as he got out of a taxicab.  Agents subsequently recovered approximately 60 grams of crack cocaine secreted on Bethea-Harris’s person.

This case was investigated by the DEA and the FBI, with the assistance of the Burlington and Colchester Police Departments. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin J. Doyle.  Bethea-Harris is represented by Federal Defender Michael L. Desautels.