Springfield, VT – In a disturbing case of firearm possession, 26-year-old Paul Lachapelle Jr. of Springfield, Vermont, has been charged with being an unlawful user of controlled substances in possession of a firearm.
On May 30, 2022, Springfield Police responded to a residence to address a possible burglary in progress. Lachapelle was encountered outside the residence with a handgun holstered to his hip. According to the complaint affidavit, he threw the handgun into a nearby tall grassy area, which was later recovered by Springfield Police.
Records indicate that Lachapelle has been an unlawful user of and addicted to controlled substances since September 2021 and continuing into May 2022.
Lachapelle appeared in federal court on charges of possessing a firearm while being an unlawful user of a controlled substance. He pleaded not guilty at his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle and was detained pending further proceedings.
If convicted, Lachapelle could face up to ten years in prison along with a period of federal supervised release that could include requirements for substance abuse treatment.
The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Vermont State Police, the Springfield Police Department, the Chester Police Department, and the Ludlow Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph Perella and Zachary Stendig are representing the United States in this case. Lachapelle is represented by Michael Straub of Straub Law Offices.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program.
Related Federal Cases
- Gavin Wilcox, Unlawful Firearm Possession, Vermont 2022 · Vermont
- Holly, Drug Trafficking, Vermont 1983 · New York
- United States v. Real Property, Drug Trafficking, Vermont 2024 · New York
- Jose Perez Convicted of Drug and Firearm Charges, Lynn MA, 2024 · Puerto Rico
- Albert Torres Morales, Firearms and Drug Charges, Vermont 2014 · New York
Key Facts
- State: Vermont
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
ðŸâ€Â’ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
Drug TraffickingDrug TraffickingDrug TraffickingDrug Trafficking