BURLINGTON, VT – Dennis Martin, 42, of Colchester, Vermont, is headed to federal prison after a jury found him guilty of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. U.S. District Judge Christina Reiss handed down a 44-month sentence on October 10, 2023, followed by a three-year term of supervised release. The case lays bare a pattern of violence and disregard for the law, culminating in a Snapchat post that sealed his fate.
The trouble began on February 18, 2019, when Colchester Police, aided by the Vermont State Police Tactical Services Unit, descended on Martin following a domestic dispute. His then-wife had reported ongoing abuse, and the immediate trigger was a chilling Snapchat video Martin sent to his mother-in-law. In the video, Martin brazenly brandished a firearm. A subsequent search of his vehicle revealed a Ruger LCP .380 caliber pistol equipped with a laser sight. ATF analysts confirmed the gun in the video matched the one seized from the vehicle, linking Martin directly to the illegal possession.
The current charges weren’t Martin’s first brush with the law. Court records show he was previously convicted of misdemeanor domestic assault and disorderly conduct related to the Snapchat incident, receiving a 363-364 day jail sentence in Vermont Superior Court. But the deeper, more damning history came to light during the federal trial. Back in 2015, Martin was convicted of a felony in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – possession with intent to distribute cocaine base – and sentenced to five years’ probation. Martin claimed ignorance of the felony designation, a claim the prosecution thoroughly dismantled.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan Ophardt, Corinne Smith, and Wendy Fuller presented testimony from Martin’s former probation officer and the Philadelphia prosecutor who handled his drug case, both of whom stated Martin was repeatedly informed of his felony status. Crucially, the prosecution produced signed paperwork clearly stating the offense was a felony. The jury wasn’t buying Martin’s claims of ignorance. The judge further penalized Martin for obstructing justice by lying under oath during the trial, adding to his sentence.
Judge Reiss didn’t just consider the illegal gun possession. She found that Martin’s menacing Snapchat post, complete with threatening statements, constituted a federal felony – transmitting a threat in interstate commerce – and factored that into the sentencing calculation. The judge’s decision underscores the seriousness of combining firearms with threats, especially in the age of social media. The sentence reflects the court’s commitment to keeping dangerous individuals off the streets and protecting the community.
U.S. Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest lauded the joint investigation by the ATF, Colchester Police Department, and Vermont State Police, calling it a prime example of successful collaboration. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a nationwide initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence. Michelle Anderson Barth, Esq. represented Martin. The message is clear: in Vermont, and across the nation, possessing a firearm while being a convicted felon will carry severe consequences.
Related Federal Cases
- Scott Phillips, Unlawfully Possessing a Firearm, Vermont 2021 · Vermont
- Christian Torruellas, Possessing Firearm as a Convicted Felon, Vermont 2021 · New York
- Shane Hardy, Stolen Firearms Possession, Vermont 2025 · New York
- Harkamal Singh, False Statement to Firearm Dealer, Vermont 2024 · Alabama
- Cody Drumheller, Felony Firearms Possession, Pennsylvania 2021 · Vermont
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