A 65-year-old Island Pond man was recently sentenced

A 65-year-old Island Pond man was recently sentenced in federal court to 2½ years in prison for conspiring to deal drugs. Clair Deslandes appeared before Judge Christina Reiss in U.S. District Court in Burlington on June 28 for the sentencing. In addition to the prison term, he will be subject to three years of supervision after he is released. The sentence follows Deslandes’ plea of guilty to conspiring with others to distribute fentanyl and cocaine base. Court records show that Deslandes became associated with Juan Carlos “JC” Ortiz in late 2021, while Ortiz was staying at multiple residences in and around Orleans County. Deslandes purchased controlled substances from Ortiz, both for his own consumption and for distribution to others in the Northeast Kingdom.

Witnesses said Deslandes allowed Ortiz and other drug dealers to periodically stay at his Island Pond residence, which was used to store and distribute controlled substances to customers.