A Winooski woman is facing federal charges that she was part of a major conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, crack cocaine, powder cocaine, fentanyl and xylazine in Vermont.

Tashama “Shorti” Oates, 47, pleaded not guilty in U.S. District Court on Tuesday afternoon to charges of conspiring with others to distribute multiple drugs between August 2024 and Jan. 29, 2025, records show.

She also denied a second felony count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, crack cocaine, powder cocaine and fentanyl on Jan. 29, the day her East Spring Street residence was raided, records show.  She also pleaded not guilty to a felony charge of knowingly possessed crack cocaine with the intent to distribute it as part of a search of her Ford Taurus also on Jan. 29, records show.

Burlington Police arrested Oates in Burlington City Hall Park on Saturday and found her with about 21 grams of fentanyl and about 26 grams of crack cocaine packaged in individual bags for distribution, federal court records.

The federal charges stem from a lengthy investigation by Burlington Police in conjunction with the Drug Enforcement Administration into drug trafficking in the Chittenden County region.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathanael T. Burris maintained Oates was both a risk to flee and a danger to the community. He noted two of the three felony charges she faces carry 10-year minimum mandatory prison sentences upon conviction.

Federal Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle agreed with the request.  Doyle noted she had few connections to Vermont and that most of her ties were to Connecticut, including the Willimantic area.

At least two other co-defendants, whose names were blacked out in the 11-count indictment, are being sought by law enforcement.  The federal grand jury in Burlington returned the indictment Oct. 2, but it was placed under seal until the targets could be apprehended.

As part of the investigation, a raid on Oates’ residence in Winooski netted more than 2.2 pounds of methamphetamine, more than 175 grams of cocaine base, more than 60 grams of cocaine and more than 100 grams of fentanyl and xylazine, federal court records note.

Oates arrived at the Winooski residence in a Ford Taurus while the search warrant was being executed and was found in possession of additional cocaine – packaged for distribution – along with drug packaging materials, court records show.

Oates was also observed driving a co-conspirator, in the same Ford Taurus, to a controlled purchase of drugs conducted by law enforcement, Burris said.

Burris noted that even after the search warrant and seizure of drugs, Oates was undeterred by the law enforcement intervention and was in possession of drugs when arrested in Burlington City Hall Park.

Oates has a lengthy criminal history including at least three previous drug distribution convictions.  She received a 3-to-7-year prison sentence following two drug convictions in 2004, court records show.

It was shortly after her release from prison, she was busted again for drug distribution and eventually sentenced to four years in prison in 2007.

Burris also noted that Oates has at least two sentences for failure to appear in court that netted her one- and three-year sentences.

Defense lawyer Chandler Matson of Stowe said those were two decades ago and that her record was relatively clear in recent years.

Matson asked for 60 days to investigate the case and to consider filing pre-trial motions.  He also noted he wanted to investigate some past mental health and substance abuse issues.
“She has been suffering from drug addiction,” he told the court.
Matson said Oates had plenty of chances to flee since the Jan. 29 search on her residence, but she has remained local.

Doyle set a Dec. 15 deadline for motions.

She has several aliases, including Brookie Oates, Tasheman Oates, Tashama Marlene Oates and other spelling variations of her first name, court records show.

Oates also has an April 2023 conviction for assault, records show.