DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC
SAFETY
VERMONT STATE POLICE
NEWS RELEASE
STATION: HQ, Vermont Drug Task Force
DATE/TIME: May 9, 2024
LOCATION: 78 Valley Street, Springfield, VT
ACCUSED: Matthew Runnells
AGE: 39
CITY, STATE OF
RESIDENCE: Springfield,
Vermont
VIOLATION: Sale of Cocaine x4, Sale of Fentanyl x4, Arrest on
Warrant x2
ACCUSED: Corey
Betit
AGE: 34
CITY, STATE OF
RESIDENCE: Springfield,
Vermont
VIOLATION: Sale of Cocaine, Sale of Fentanyl, Arrest on a
warrant x2
ACCUSED: Zahira A.
Dullary
AGE: 28
CITY, STATE OF
RESIDENCE: Hartford,
Connecticut
VIOLATION: Fentanyl Trafficking, Possession of Cocaine
ACCUSED: Jaylenn Baez
AGE: 28
CITY, STATE OF
RESIDENCE: Hartford,
Connecticut
VIOLATION: Fentanyl Trafficking, Cocaine Possession, Person
Prohibited from Possessing a Firearm
ACCUSED: Cody Greenslit
AGE: 35
CITY, STATE OF
RESIDENCE: Springfield,
Vermont
VIOLATION: Arrest on Warrant
ACCUSED: Amber White
AGE: 31
CITY, STATE OF
RESIDENCE: Springfield,
Vermont
VIOLATION: Fugitive from Justice
ACCUSED: Elise
Nuccio
AGE: 30
CITY, STATE OF
RESIDENCE: Westminster,
Vermont
VIOLATION: Arrest on Warrant
SUMMARY OF INCIDENT:
On May 9, 2024, the Vermont State Police executed a search warrant at 78 Valley
Street in Springfield, VT. This operation involved members of the Vermont Drug
Task Force, Vermont State Police Tactical Services Unit, Vermont State Police
Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Vermont State Police Field Force Division,
Vermont State Police Crisis Negotiation Unit, Vermont State Police Bomb Squad,
Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Homeland Security, and the
Springfield Police Department.
The execution of the search warrant
stemmed from a four-month drug investigation conducted by detectives with the
Vermont Drug Task Force into the distribution of fentanyl and cocaine from 78
Valley Street. During the execution of the search warrant the Vermont State
Police encountered multiple individuals including but not limited to Matthew
Runnells, Cody Greenslit, Cory Betit, Amber White, Elise Nuccio, Kahira
Dullary, and Jaylenn Baez.
The Vermont Drug Task Force
investigation involved the use of confidential informants who purchased
fentanyl and cocaine from Runnells on four separate occasions and Betit on one
occasion. At the time of their arrests for sale of cocaine and fentanyl, both
Runnells and Betit had active arrest warrants for offenses unrelated to this
investigation. Runnells had two active arrest warrants, one issued by Vermont
Department of Corrections for a Supervised Release Violation and a second out
of Windsor County for failing to appear on December 5, 2023, to answer the
charges of Simple Assault and Petit Larceny. Bail on the Windsor County warrant
was set at $200.00.
Betit also had two active arrest
warrants, one out of Windsor County and one out of Windham County. The Windham
County warrant was issued after Betit failed to appear on November 27, 2023, to
answer the charges of False Information to a Police Officer and the Windsor
County warrant was issued after Betit failed to appear on January 9, 2024, to
answer the charges of Grand Larceny and Vehicle Operation without the owner’s
consent. Bail on Betit’s Windham County warrant was set at $200.00, and bail on
Betit’s Windsor County warrant was set at $10,000. Greenslit also had an arrest
warrant which was issued after he failed to appear on March 26, 2024, to answer
charges of Identity Theft, Fraud, and Petit Larceny.
Elise Nuccio and Amber White were
arrested on warrants by the Springfield Police Department. Nuccio’s warrant was
issued after she failed to appear on April 18, 2024, to answer the charges of
Burglary, Accessory Aiding in the Commission of Assault and Robbery, and
Violation of Conditions of Release. White was found to be a fugitive out of New
Hampshire with an extraditable arrest warrant for failure to appear to answer
the felony charge of possession of crack cocaine. Nuccio and White were
transported to the Springfield Police Department for processing.
A search of 78 Valley Street yielded
evidence of drug use, drug distribution, and a firearms offense. During a
search of an upstairs bedroom that was later described by a witness as Jaylenn
Baez and Zahira Dullary’s room, police found approximately 42 grams of
fentanyl, approximately 25 grams of cocaine base, and a loaded handgun hidden
inside the bedroom wall. Additional ammunition was also found. Also located
inside the residence was approximately 56 grams of an unknown substance. Baez
and Dullary, who had initially been released were located at a nearby residence
on Valley Street and arrested. Baez is charged with fentanyl trafficking,
cocaine possession and prohibited person in possession of a firearm. Dullary is
charged with fentanyl trafficking and cocaine possession. Baez and Dullary were
transported to the Vermont State Police Barracks in Westminster.
Greenslit was processed at the
Westminster State Police Barracks and transported to the Windsor District Court
– Criminal Division in White River Jct. Runnells, Betit, Baez, and Dullary were
all processed at the Westminster Barracks and lodged at the Southern State
Correctional Center. In addition to their arrest warrants, Runnells and Betit’s
bail on the sale charges was set at $25,000. Baez’s bail was set at $100,000,
and Dullary’s bail was set at $25,000. Runnells, Betit, Baez, and Dullary are
due in Windsor District Court – Criminal Division in
White River Jct. on
May 10, 2024.
Runnells, Betit, Baez,
and Dullary are being prosecuted by the Windsor County State’s Attorney's
Office. Anyone with information about this investigation is asked to contact
the Vermont State Police at 802-722-4600 or submit a tip anonymously via https://vsp.vermont.gov/tipsubmit.
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