RUTLAND — Between this past September and last week, members of the Vermont Drug Task Force conducted multiple state and federal drug investigations that resulted in the arrest of five federal defendants and six state defendants in Rutland County, the Task Force reported late last week.
The 11 defendants — including one man from Brandon — are facing criminal charges for drug-related offenses that variously involved sale of heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine; possession with intent to distribute fentanyl; conspiracy to distribute fentanyl; aiding in the commission of a felony; and selling a regulated drug from a dwelling.
On Jan. 16 the Vermont Drug Task Force arrested Tara Dulaurence, 44, of Rutland following a federal drug investigation. Troopers from the Rutland state police barracks stopped a vehicle occupied by Dulaurence on Route 4 in Killington, where she was taken into custody by the Vermont Drug Task Force. Task force members said they located approximately 38 grams of suspected fentanyl inside Dulaurence’s purse.
On Jan. 17 the Drug Task Force arrested Louis K. Margiotti Jr. in Rutland. The 56-year-old Rutland man had been identified as Dulaurence’s boyfriend and was charged with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl in connection to the 38 grams of suspected fentanyl seized from Dulaurence on Jan. 16. Following Margiotti’s arrest, the Drug Task Force was joined by troopers, Rutland police and FBI agents, executed a federal search warrant at Margiotti and Dulaurence’s Rutland City residence.
The next day, Dulaurence and Margiotti appeared before a federal magistrate judge in U.S. District Court in Burlington. Following their initial appearance, both were remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. Dulaurence and Margiotti are being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Vermont.
The feds are also prosecuting three more Rutland residents: Shanna A. Fish, 27; Andrea L. McCullough, 34; and Michael L. Goodnough, 44.
Fish was arrested at Vermont Superior Court in Rutland on Oct. 15 after the issuance of a federal arrest warrant. The federal warrant was issued following a federal indictment for drug sales on Sept. 26. She has been released pending trial.
Goodnough and McCullough were indicted by a federal grand jury on Dec. 19 following a month-long investigation involving the use of confidential informants who purchased crack cocaine from both Goodnough and McCullough, who police allege were selling drugs independent of each other.
McCullough was arrested in Rutland City on Jan. 3 and, following her arraignment, was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals. She was previously arrested for sale of fentanyl on Aug. 27, 2018, and was on state probation at the time of her Jan. 3 arrest.
At the time of indictment, Goodnough was incarcerated at Marble Valley Regional Correctional Facility on charges unrelated to his federal drug charge. A federal detainer was put in place on Goodnough until his arraignment in U.S. District Court on Jan. 22. He is in the custody of U.S. Marshals.
Jack T. Hopper, 44, of Rutland turned himself in following the issuance of an arrest warrant and was arraigned at the Rutland Superior Court, criminal division, on Oct. 29, 2018, and released on conditions. Hopper faces charges for sale of cocaine, sale of fentanyl, and aiding in the commission of a felony.
On Dec. 3, Keith A. Bradt, 28, of Rutland was arraigned at the in the same court as Hopper, and released on conditions. Bradt is facing a felony charge for sale of cocaine.
Scott A. Ross, 33, of Rutland is facing a felony charge for sale of cocaine. The Vermont Drug Task Force investigated Ross in January 2017 and alleges that he sold cocaine to a confidential informant. In the weeks following this investigation, the Task Force learned Ross had been arrested in New York and New Jersey for drugs- and weapons-related offenses. Ross is scheduled to appear at Rutland Superior Court, criminal division, on Feb. 25.
Two New Yorkers are also facing charges: Zaquikon T. Roy, 30, of Brooklyn and David L. Santiago, 34, of the Bronx.
The Vermont Drug Task Force requested arrest warrants for Roy and Santiago.
Roy is wanted in Vermont for sale of cocaine and Santiago is wanted in here for sale of heroin. 
The Task Force notified the New York State Police that Santiago was transporting drugs from New York to Vermont and provided New York authorities with a description of Santiago’s vehicle. New York police arrested Santiago.
State police reported that Anthony S. Baker, 26, of Brandon was cited for aiding in the commission of a felony and selling a regulated substance from a dwelling. Authorities didn’t provide any details other than to day Baker was due to answer the charges in Rutland Superior Court, criminal division, on Jan 28.
Brandon police Department helped in this case.
During these investigations, the Vermont Drug Task Force seized substances later found to contain dangerous mixtures of heroin, tramadol, fentanyl, acetyl fentanyl, and cocaine. Authorities are working to determine if there is a connection to any recent fatal overdoses in the area. These investigations are ongoing and anyone with information is asked to contact the Vermont Drug Task Force at (802) 773-9101 or submit a tip anonymously via VTIPS.info.