A Selkirk man was arrested Thursday on federal drug trafficking and money laundering charges, according to the United States Attorney Office and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division.
Jeremy VanWormer, 28, is charged by indictment with one count of participating in a conspiracy to distribute more than 100 kilograms of marijuana and four counts of participating in a conspiracy to launder drug trafficking proceeds. VanWormer was arraigned Thursday, Aug. 13 in Albany before United States Magistrate Judge Randolph F. Treece and released under pretrial supervision and secured bond pending a trial scheduled for Oct. 13 before Mae DíAgostino, United States District Court Judge Mae DíAgostino.
On the drug trafficking conspiracy charge, VanWormer faces at least 10 years of imprisonment and up to life, a maximum fine of $8 million and a term of supervised release of eight years to life.
On each of the money laundering conspiracy charges, VanWormer faces a maximum imprisonment term of 20 years, a maximum fine of $500,000, and a maximum term of supervised release of three years.
According to the indictment, VanWormer allegedly participated in a marijuana trafficking conspiracy from about Jan. 1, 2013 to Nov. 14, 2014. He also allegedly participated in four separate money laundering conspiracies during that time. The indictment seeks forfeiture of assets, including real properties in Troy and Watervliet.
According to Police Commander Adam Hornick, the Bethlehem Police Department assisted the U.S. Postal Inspector, Department of Homeland Security and Drug Enforcement Agency in the execution of federal search and arrest warrants at two residences in Selkirk. This is the result of a long term investigation that was conducted jointly between the Bethlehem police and these agencies. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Barnett.
