http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20110910/NEWS02/709109958/1003/NEWS02
Federal officials taking over Dummerston case
By Casey Farrar
THE KEENE Sentinel - Published: September 10, 2011
BRATTLEBORO — Federal officials are taking over a criminal case against two men who had been charged in connection with the death of a Brattleboro woman in July in Dummerston.
Vermont state prosecutors have dropped all charges against the men as a result of the federal investigation, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s office for Vermont.
Frank Caraballo, 29, of Holyoke, Mass., was charged last month with second-degree murder, kidnapping, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and 11 drug charges stemming from an ongoing investigation by the Vermont Drug Task Force.
Caraballo’s alleged accomplice — Joshua A. Makhanda-Lopez, 22, of Springfield, Mass. — faced two counts of aiding in the commission of a felony and four drug charges stemming from the investigation.
The two were indicted Thursday in federal court on six counts alleging that they conspired to distribute crack cocaine in June and July 2011 in the Brattleboro area, according to the news release.
Caraballo pleaded not guilty to the charges. Makhanda-Lopez has not yet been arraigned.
It is unclear whether the men will now face federal murder charges in the shooting death of 31-year-old Melissa Barratt on July 29.
“The federal investigation is continuing,” the release said. “Meanwhile, the State has dismissed, without prejudice, all charges against Caraballo and Lopez in light of the federal charges and ongoing investigation.”
Reached at her office Friday morning, State’s Attorney Tracy K. Shriver confirmed that the state dismissed its charges, but declined to comment further on the case.
A call to the U.S. Attorney’s office for Vermont was not immediately returned.
According to federal law, a person convicted of a murder committed using a firearm during a crime of violence or a drug-trafficking crime could face the death penalty. Vermont law does not allow for the death penalty.
The case is being investigated by the Vermont State Police, the Southeast Vermont Drug Task Force, and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
At a hearing Thursday in U.S. District Court in Burlington, Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Perella sought to have Caraballo held without bail, pending trial. Through his attorney, Matt Hartnett of Rutland, Caraballo requested a continuance of the detention hearing, which was granted by Magistrate Judge John M. Conroy, according to the news release.
Caraballo’s detention hearing is now scheduled for Sept. 15 in federal court in Rutland. In the meantime, he was ordered held without bail.
Following their arrests last month, Caraballo and Makhanda-Lopez were held at the Southern State Correctional Facility in Springfield. It is unclear whether they remain there.
If convicted on the federal drug conspiracy charge, Caraballo and Makhanda-Lopez would face a mandatory five- to 40-year prison sentence and a fine up to $5 million, according to the news release.
Police allege that in July, Caraballo and Makhanda-Lopez met Barratt at her friend’s Brattleboro apartment where she’d been staying and forced her into a car, taking her to a wooded area along East West Road in Dummerston, Vt., according to court documents filed in the Windham County criminal court.
Caraballo, who Makhanda-Lopez told police had accused Barratt of stealing drugs from him, led Barratt from the car into the woods and shot her in the head, before returning to the waiting car and telling Makhanda-Lopez to drive him to Massachusetts, court documents show.
Barratt’s body was found the next day and reported to police by a passing motorist, court documents show.
By Casey Farrar
THE KEENE Sentinel - Published: September 10, 2011
BRATTLEBORO — Federal officials are taking over a criminal case against two men who had been charged in connection with the death of a Brattleboro woman in July in Dummerston.
Vermont state prosecutors have dropped all charges against the men as a result of the federal investigation, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s office for Vermont.
Frank Caraballo, 29, of Holyoke, Mass., was charged last month with second-degree murder, kidnapping, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and 11 drug charges stemming from an ongoing investigation by the Vermont Drug Task Force.
Caraballo’s alleged accomplice — Joshua A. Makhanda-Lopez, 22, of Springfield, Mass. — faced two counts of aiding in the commission of a felony and four drug charges stemming from the investigation.
The two were indicted Thursday in federal court on six counts alleging that they conspired to distribute crack cocaine in June and July 2011 in the Brattleboro area, according to the news release.
Caraballo pleaded not guilty to the charges. Makhanda-Lopez has not yet been arraigned.
It is unclear whether the men will now face federal murder charges in the shooting death of 31-year-old Melissa Barratt on July 29.
“The federal investigation is continuing,” the release said. “Meanwhile, the State has dismissed, without prejudice, all charges against Caraballo and Lopez in light of the federal charges and ongoing investigation.”
Reached at her office Friday morning, State’s Attorney Tracy K. Shriver confirmed that the state dismissed its charges, but declined to comment further on the case.
A call to the U.S. Attorney’s office for Vermont was not immediately returned.
According to federal law, a person convicted of a murder committed using a firearm during a crime of violence or a drug-trafficking crime could face the death penalty. Vermont law does not allow for the death penalty.
The case is being investigated by the Vermont State Police, the Southeast Vermont Drug Task Force, and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
At a hearing Thursday in U.S. District Court in Burlington, Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Perella sought to have Caraballo held without bail, pending trial. Through his attorney, Matt Hartnett of Rutland, Caraballo requested a continuance of the detention hearing, which was granted by Magistrate Judge John M. Conroy, according to the news release.
Caraballo’s detention hearing is now scheduled for Sept. 15 in federal court in Rutland. In the meantime, he was ordered held without bail.
Following their arrests last month, Caraballo and Makhanda-Lopez were held at the Southern State Correctional Facility in Springfield. It is unclear whether they remain there.
If convicted on the federal drug conspiracy charge, Caraballo and Makhanda-Lopez would face a mandatory five- to 40-year prison sentence and a fine up to $5 million, according to the news release.
Police allege that in July, Caraballo and Makhanda-Lopez met Barratt at her friend’s Brattleboro apartment where she’d been staying and forced her into a car, taking her to a wooded area along East West Road in Dummerston, Vt., according to court documents filed in the Windham County criminal court.
Caraballo, who Makhanda-Lopez told police had accused Barratt of stealing drugs from him, led Barratt from the car into the woods and shot her in the head, before returning to the waiting car and telling Makhanda-Lopez to drive him to Massachusetts, court documents show.
Barratt’s body was found the next day and reported to police by a passing motorist, court documents show.
Are you kidding me? This is the craziest thing I have ever read. My oly hope is that they are doing so because the drug charges are stronger and hold better. Unfortunately a person lost their life and that should be recognized.
ReplyDeletei knew melissa from years back. the girl had her issues like many other small town lost souls. i know alot about this case and what lead up to this death and i cant believe these crazies are getting off scott free. it doesn't come to a surprise to me that the law let them go just another dead CRACK HEAD TO THEM RIGHT! WELL THATS WRONG! SHE WAS A PERSON WHO WAS LOST AND NEEDED A WAY TO ESCAPE REALITY. i feel so sorry for her that because she had a drug problem she gets no justice? Recently a man was sentenced to 25 years to life for shooting another man who came after him with an ax. the bullet hit a artery and the guy died. the man was defending himself from an ax being swung at him so he shot him and gets life. melissa's killers looked her in the face n shot her cold blooded in the head n left her there and her killers get to live a free life? what is wrong with this world! Melissa i am so sorry for what happened to you and may god be with you and heaven be all that u dreamed!
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