Springfield, Massachusetts Man Found Guilty by Jury of Drug and Gun Offenses Involving Juveniles

BURLINGTON - The United States Attorney's Office for the District of Vermont announced that on July 15, 2026, following a six-day jury trial in United States District Court in Burlington, Rockylane Lewis, 36, of Springfield, Massachusetts was convicted of conspiring to distribute cocaine base (crack), fentanyl, and oxycodone, conspiring to use juveniles to distribute cocaine base and fentanyl, four counts of using juveniles on specific dates to distribute cocaine base and fentanyl, and conspiring to use firearms in relation to, or possess firearms in furtherance of the drug conspiracy. Prior to opening statements in the trial, Lewis also pled guilty to three counts of distributing cocaine base and fentanyl on specific dates in 2023, while his co-defendant Takar Watson, 42, of Springfield, Massachusetts, pled guilty to conspiring to distribute cocaine. Lewis, who was arrested in June 2023, and Watson, who was arrested in September 2025, remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending post-trial proceedings.

According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Lewis, Watson, and other co-conspirators conspired to distribute oxycodone in Massachusetts, and then used proceeds from those drug sales to fund the purchase of drugs to be distributed in Vermont. Lewis and others agreed that juveniles would be taught to sell drugs and would distribute drugs on behalf of the conspiracy in Vermont. Between December 2022 and June 2023, law enforcement conducted fourteen controlled purchases of cocaine base and fentanyl from Lewis and others associated with the drug conspiracy in the Rutland, Vermont area. In three of those controlled purchases, Lewis sold fentanyl or cocaine base to a law enforcement confidential informant. In eight of the controlled purchases, five juveniles between the ages of 15 and 17, distributed controlled substances to the law enforcement confidential informant. Social media and text messaging presented during the trial showed Lewis communicating with the juveniles regarding the distribution of controlled substances. The evidence at trial also showed that the members of the conspiracy agreed to use firearms in relation to, or possess firearms in furtherance of the drug conspiracy. Lewis was arrested in Rutland, Vermont on the afternoon of June 21, 2023. Later that evening a 15-year-old co-conspirator was detained by law enforcement in possession of a 9mm pistol and approximately seven grams of cocaine base.

Based on the jury's verdict, Lewis faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years' imprisonment and a potential maximum sentence of life. Takar Watson's plea agreement includes an agreed sentence, subject to approval by the Court, of 48 months, with a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years. The ultimate sentence for both Lewis and Watson will be determined by the Court with reference to the Sentencing Guidelines and statutory sentencing factors.

First Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt commended the investigative efforts of Homeland Security Investigations ("HSI"), the Rutland City Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives ("ATF"), the Vermont State Police Vermont Drug Task Force ("VDTF"), and the Bennington County Sheriff's Office. Ophardt added: "Lewis manipulated and armed children to peddle poisons for profit throughout Rutland. I am extremely proud of the law enforcement efforts to uncover the extent of Lewis and Watson's illicit activities, and grateful for the hard work of the trial team in obtaining these convictions. We will be advocating for a lengthy sentence for Lewis, whose callous conduct warrants significant punishment."

"Trafficking drugs in our community is bad enough, but endangering the lives and futures of children for profit is simply egregious. Now, a jury has found Lewis guilty and he's facing serious prison time. HSI is working every day with our law enforcement partners to improve public safety in Vermont. Tackling drug trafficking is an important part of our strategy and this verdict marks a significant achievement towards our goals," said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New England Acting Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey Grimming.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jason Turner and Michelle Arra. Rockylane Lewis was represented by Karen Shingler, Esq. and Takar Watson was represented by Matthew Anderson, Esq.