SPRINGFIELD, VT – Martine Protas, 44, of Springfield, Vermont, walked out of court a free woman this week, but not without a three-year term of supervised release hanging over her head. Protas was sentenced on October 20th after pleading guilty to being an illegal user of controlled substances while in possession of a firearm. The case stems from a November 2022 encounter with law enforcement that revealed a dangerous cocktail of drugs and weaponry.
According to court records, federal investigators were on the hunt for another individual when they spotted a vehicle at Springfield Hospital. The wanted person was found behind the wheel, and Protas sat in the passenger seat, a holstered semiautomatic pistol tucked into her waistband. The scene wasn’t just about the gun; officers immediately observed Protas and her companion allegedly smoking crack cocaine. A search of the vehicle and the surrounding area turned up drug paraphernalia and residual cocaine base near the passenger door.
Protas was initially detained by the U.S. Marshals Service from November 30, 2022, until March 30, 2023, when she was released to attend a treatment program. That arrangement quickly fell apart. Protas skipped the program, triggering an arrest warrant and her subsequent re-arrest on April 6th. She’s been in custody ever since, awaiting the outcome of her case.
U.S. Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest praised the extensive collaborative effort that brought Protas to justice. The investigation involved the FBI, Vermont State Police, Vermont Drug Task Force, DEA, Homeland Security Investigations, ATF, Springfield Police Department, and Windsor County State’s Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary Stendig prosecuted the case, while Michael Shklar, Esq. represented Protas.
This case isn’t an isolated incident, officials say. It’s part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” (PSN) initiative, a nationwide program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence by fostering collaboration between law enforcement and local communities. Launched in 2021, the revamped PSN focuses on building trust, supporting community organizations, and strategically prioritizing enforcement efforts.
While Protas received a time-served sentence for the initial charge, the three years of supervised release serve as a warning: possessing a firearm while illegally using controlled substances carries serious consequences. The ATF and its partner agencies continue to target individuals who put public safety at risk by combining illegal drug use with access to deadly weapons. The investigation highlights the ongoing struggle to stem the flow of firearms into the hands of those prohibited from possessing them.
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