Perez Sentenced 78 Months for Kidnapping Interstate Trucker

A brazen kidnapping on the dark roads of Vermont has landed a New Hampshire man behind bars for nearly 6.5 years. Barry Perez, 35, of Lebanon, New Hampshire, was sentenced to 78 months in prison for kidnapping an interstate trucker in January 2023.

According to court records, Perez stole a box truck in Lebanon in the early morning hours of January 13, 2023, while under the influence of various illegal drugs. He drove the stolen truck into Vermont along Interstate 89, crashing it near Exit 1 before attempting to hijack an interstate shipment.

Perez displayed what appeared to be a handgun, but was actually a pellet gun, to force the trucker to drive him further north on I-89. However, the trucker was able to outsmart Perez by stopping the truck and escaping when Perez dozed off during the ride.

A standoff ensued, and Perez was eventually arrested in Berlin, Vermont, and taken into custody. Perez pleaded guilty to kidnapping in January 2023, and U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont announced his 78-month sentence on June 20, 2025.

Chief United States District Judge Christina Reiss also ordered Perez to pay restitution in the amount of $44,626 and recommended that the Bureau of Prisons not give Perez credit for time he has been detained pending the sentencing date.

Acting United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher commended the collaborative investigatory efforts of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Vermont State Police, and the Berlin Police Department, which helped bring Perez to justice. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Van de Graaf prosecuted the case, while Federal Public Defender Michael Desautels represented Perez.

As Perez begins serving his sentence, the community can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that a violent predator is off the streets. But the question remains: how many more Barry Perezes are out there, waiting to strike?