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Rutland Man Gets 46 Months for Stolen Guns
A Rutland man has been sentenced to 46 months in federal prison for possessing stolen firearms. Thomas J. Rougier, Jr., 23, was sentenced on May 19, 2014, by United States District Judge J. Garvan Murtha in Brattleboro, Vermont.
According to court records, in September of 2013, Rougier stole approximately seven handguns from a residence in Weybridge, Vermont. He then traded a number of the stolen handguns to drug dealers in the Rutland area for heroin and cocaine. Law enforcement was able to recover three of the stolen handguns.
Rougier was arrested on September 6, 2013, and a federal grand jury in the District of Vermont returned an indictment against him on September 19, 2013. Rougier pled guilty to possessing stolen firearms on January 27, 2014. He has been in custody since his arrest.
The statutory maximum for Rougier’s offense is ten years in prison. Pursuant to the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, Rougier faced between 57 and 71 months in prison. Because of the gravity of Rougier’s offense and his significant criminal record, which includes multiple instances of violent or threatening conduct, the United States asked Judge Murtha to impose a term of 70 months.
In sentencing Rougier to a term of imprisonment 11 months below the low end of the Guidelines range, Judge Murtha noted, among other factors, Rougier’s difficult childhood. United States Attorney Tristram J. Coffin commended the efforts of the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives, the Rutland City Police Department, and the Vermont State Police for their hard work and coordinated efforts on this investigation.
Rougier is represented by Assistant Federal Public Defender Steven Barth. United States Attorney Coffin noted that this prosecution is part of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ nationwide commitment to reduce gun crime in America through Project Safe Neighborhood. For more information, please visit www.psn.gov.
Key Facts
- State: Vermont
- Category: Weapons
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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