Related Federal Cases
- Murad, Violent Crime, Vermont 2000 · Connecticut
- Gary Joseph Gravelle, Hoax Threat by Mail, CT 2018 · District of Columbia
- Joseph Melton, Stabbing Two Men, Washington D.C. 2023 · Washington
- Joseph Melton Sentenced · Washington
- Jesse Bartlett, Mailing Threatening Letters, New York 2023 · New York
Bellows Falls Woman Sentenced for Buying Firearm for Felon
In a shocking case of firearm trafficking, a Bellows Falls, Vermont woman was sentenced to serve two years on federal probation after her guilty plea to making a false statement in connection with the acquisition of a firearm. Bridgette Lawlor, 34, of Bellows Falls, Vermont, was handed down the sentence by U.S. District Judge Christina Reiss on July 22, 2021. The court also ordered the criminal forfeiture of two firearms that were seized during the investigation.
According to court records and proceedings, on March 23, 2020, Lawlor completed an ATF Form 4473 at J&H Guns, a Federal Firearm Licensee located in Bellows Falls, Vermont. However, in a brazen move, Lawlor indicated that she was the actual buyer of the firearm, when in fact, she was buying the gun at the request of her then-boyfriend, Ferdinand Cruz. At the time of the purchase, Cruz was a felon, having been previously convicted in Connecticut of robbery, unlawful restraint, and felony sale of cocaine.
Lawlor, in her misguided attempt to circumvent federal background-check requirements, picked up the firearm at J&H Guns on April 1, 2020, and provided it to Cruz. The straw-purchasing of firearms creates significant dangers to our communities, as it can facilitate the possession of firearms by violent felons. Acting U.S. Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt commended the efforts of the Dover, Vermont Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives in the investigation and prosecution of Lawlor.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Barbara A. Masterson handled the prosecution of Lawlor, while Ian P. Carleton of Sheehey Furlong & Behm, P.C., represented Lawlor. This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.
Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. The case is a stark reminder of the dangers of firearm trafficking and the importance of strict enforcement of federal background-check requirements.
Defendant’s Information: Bridgette Lawlor, 34, of Bellows Falls, Vermont. Criminal Charges: One count of making a false statement in connection with the acquisition of a firearm. City and State: Bellows Falls, Vermont. Date: March 23, 2020. Sentence: Two years on federal probation. Outcome: Criminal forfeiture of two firearms.
Key Facts
- State: Vermont
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
ðŸâ€Â’ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
