Springfield Straw-Purchaser Sentenced for Firearms, Bank Robbery

Stephen Loewe, 43, of Springfield, Vermont, has been sentenced to 45 months in federal prison for straw-purchasing 19 firearms and robbing three banks. The sentence, handed down by Chief United States District Judge Christina Reiss, also includes a 3-year supervised release term.

Loewe pleaded guilty to purchasing the firearms at a New Hampshire gun store, falsely claiming they were for his own use. In reality, he provided 18 handguns to his drug dealer in exchange for crack cocaine. One firearm was recovered from a Springfield, Vermont, drug den and another from the scene of a police officer shooting in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Loewe’s spree included bank robberies at the Claremont Savings Bank and M&T Bank in Springfield on August 13, 2024, and another at the M&T Bank in Putney, Vermont, on August 14, 2024. He used the proceeds from the heists to fund his drug habit. Loewe was arrested following a high-speed chase after stealing a vehicle.

Acting United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher emphasized the gravity of straw-purchasing firearms, noting it circumvents federal background checks and arms criminals. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Vermont State Police, and Springfield Police Department collaborated in the investigation.

The prosecution was led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Corinne Smith and Jonathan Ophardt, with Loewe represented by Assistant Federal Defender Steven Barth. The multi-agency effort was commended for its success in bringing justice to this case.