January 24, 2012
BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) - A man sentenced to 20 year in prison for his role overseeing one of the biggest drug rings in Vermont history is asking for his jail time to be reduced.
Michael Olsen, 37, of Colchester, pleaded guilty last year to distributing narcotics, laundering money and illegally obtaining confidential phone records as a part of a drug conspiracy at his now-defunct auto-detailing business in South Burlington.
The Burlington Free Press reports his lawyers filed papers saying he was wrongly accused of threatening to kill a government informant who had infiltrated the drug operation. They said there is no evidence backing the obstruction of justice allegation. They want the sentence to be vacated and have a new sentencing hearing.
U.S. Attorney Tristam Coffin said his office expects to oppose the request.
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