4 arrested in Sheffield drug trafficking bust

LYNDONVILLE — Four individuals were arraigned in Caledonia Superior Court following a major drug trafficking investigation that culminated in arrests at a Sheffield residence on March 25.

Kane Quiles, 23, and Luis Velazquez, 23, both of Springfield, Mass., along with Monique Lapoint, 32, and Toni Lapoint, 56, both of Sheffield, were taken into custody after police executed a search warrant at 1709 VT Route 122 in Sheffield.

All four suspects were lodged at the Northeast Regional Correctional Facility after the court set substantial cash or surety bail: $70,000 for Quiles, $80,000 for Velazquez, $75,000 for Toni Lapoint, and $50,000 for Monique Lapoint.

The arrests followed a six-month investigation by Lyndonville Police Officer Renaudette into suspicious activity along the VT Route 122 corridor and drug activity in the greater Lyndon area.

During the search, authorities discovered what they described as “a significant quantity of suspected fentanyl and other regulated drugs, ledgers, documents and firearms.”

The suspects face multiple serious charges including trafficking in fentanyl, possession of narcotics, possession of defaced firearms, and conspiracy.

A fifth individual, Ryan Stimpson, 37, of St. Johnsbury, was cited and released at the scene for possession of narcotics.

He is scheduled for arraignment in Caledonia Superior Court on May 5 at 8:30 a.m.