Martine Protas, Firearm Possession, Vermont 2023

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Vermont Woman Sentenced for Firearm Possession

Burlington, Vermont – In a shocking turn of events, Martine Protas, a 44-year-old resident of Springfield, Vermont, has been sentenced to a prison term of time-served, to be followed by a three-year term of supervised release, for being an illegal user of controlled substances in possession of a firearm.

According to court records, on November 30, 2022, investigators were searching for an individual who was the subject of a federal arrest warrant. Law enforcement located the wanted individual in the driver’s seat of a vehicle that was parked at the Springfield Hospital. Protas was in the passenger seat, in possession of a holstered semiautomatic pistol in her waistband.

At the time that Protas and the other person were found by law enforcement, they appeared to be smoking cocaine base. Investigators found drug paraphernalia inside of the car and cocaine base on the ground outside of the passenger side door of the vehicle.

U.S. Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the investigatory and collaborative efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Vermont State Police, the Vermont Drug Task Force, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Springfield Police Department, and the Windsor County State’s Attorney’s Office.

The United States is represented in this matter by Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary Stendig. Martine Protas is represented by Michael Shklar, Esq. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.

Martine Protas, the defendant, is a 44-year-old resident of Springfield, Vermont. The exact criminal charges against her are being an illegal user of controlled substances in possession of a firearm. The city and state involved are Burlington, Vermont. The date of the crime is November 30, 2022. The sentence or outcome is time-served in prison, followed by a three-year term of supervised release.

This case highlights the importance of the Project Safe Neighborhoods program, which aims to reduce violent crime and gun violence in our communities. The program brings together law enforcement agencies and community organizations to prevent violence and make our neighborhoods safer.