BURLINGTON, VT – Eric Edson, 52, of Burlington, Vermont, is facing up to 20 years in federal prison after pleading not guilty to robbing the Sierra Trading Post on Shelburne Road last August. Edson allegedly threatened an employee with what appeared to be a firearm before fleeing with unpaid merchandise.
According to court records, the Burlington Police Department (BPD) responded to the Sierra Trading Post on August 24th after reports of a shoplifting incident gone violently wrong. Witnesses told police Edson attempted to leave the store without paying. When confronted by an employee, Edson reportedly escalated the situation, uttering a chilling threat: “I’ll blow your head off.” He then partially displayed an object resembling a firearm from within his hooded sweatshirt before making a quick escape in a vehicle.
The incident triggered a manhunt across Chittenden County. Edson remained at large for over two weeks, evading local and federal authorities. He was finally apprehended by law enforcement on September 7, 2023, after a coordinated effort involving multiple agencies. He was initially held in state custody before being transferred to federal court.
Edson appeared in United States District Court yesterday, entering a not guilty plea to violating the Hobbs Act – a federal law prohibiting robbery and obstruction of commerce. U.S. Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle deemed Edson a flight risk and ordered him detained pending trial, the date of which has not yet been set. The government is being represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Cate, while Edson is being defended by Laura Wilson, Esq. and Federal Public Defender Michael Desautels.
U.S. Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest praised the collaborative investigation led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the BPD. He also extended gratitude to the Vermont State Police, Vermont Fish and Wildlife Warden Service, Lamoille County Sheriff’s Department, U.S. Coast Guard, Colchester Police Department, UVM Police Department, Milton Police Department, and Franklin County Sheriff’s Department for their assistance in Edson’s apprehension.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a Department of Justice initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through coordinated law enforcement efforts. If convicted, Edson faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, guided by Federal Sentencing Guidelines. An indictment is simply an accusation, and Edson is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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