Irasburg Man Sentenced to Serve 4 to 12 Years for Trafficking Heroin

IRASBURG — A convicted heroin trafficker was sentenced to serve four to twelve years in prison at a sentencing hearing held in Vermont Superior Court in Orleans County on February 5, according to Vermont Attorney General Bill Sorrell.

Richard Cote, III of Irasburg was arrested on February 20, 2013 at the culmination of an investigation by the North East Vermont Drug Task Force into heroin trafficking in the Irasburg and Newport area.

During a post-arrest interview, Cote admitted that he had regularly traveled to Keene, New Hampshire, to buy heroin to bring back to sell in Orleans County, Vermont. He further admitted that he generally brought back a “finger” of heroin each time.

A “finger” is a street term for ten grams of heroin, almost three times the threshold amount of 3.5 grams required for a heroin trafficking charge.

Cote plead guilty to: heroin trafficking; five felony sales of heroin; carrying a deadly weapon while committing a felony; felony possession of marijuana; and misdemeanor possession of narcotics.

In consideration of these guilty pleas, the State dismissed a misdemeanor child cruelty charge.

In accordance with a request by the Attorney General’s Office, the sentencing judge recommended to the Department of Corrections that Cote be enrolled in any drug treatment program for which he is determined to be eligible.