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Ryan Goodrich, Firearms & Heroin Trafficking, Vermont 2023
RUTLAND, VT – Ryan Goodrich, 38, of Athens, Vermont, is headed to federal prison for five years after pleading guilty to being a prohibited person in possession of firearms. The sentence, handed down by Chief U.S. District Judge Geoffrey W. Crawford on December 20, also includes a three-year term of supervised release. The case, a tangled web of illegal weapons and heroin, began not with a drug bust, but a routine fish and wildlife check.
Vermont Game Wardens initially flagged Goodrich in late winter 2022 for violations of hunting and fishing regulations. A deeper dive into his Facebook account quickly revealed something far more sinister: a photo of a short-barrel shotgun. Messages indicated Goodrich had discharged the weapon and likely kept it at his residence. This prompted a joint operation with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The subsequent raid on March 3, 2022, uncovered a disturbing arsenal – the loaded short-barrel shotgun, multiple other shotguns, several rifles, including an AR-style rifle, and a staggering 2,978 rounds of ammunition. Authorities also seized $6,000 in cash and 880 bags of heroin.
The short-barrel shotgun wasn’t just illegal for Goodrich to possess due to his prohibited status; it was also improperly registered with the National Firearms Act. Documents bearing Goodrich’s name were found at the scene, but he was nowhere to be found when the warrant was executed. A federal grand jury indictment followed on March 10, 2022, but Goodrich remained on the run. For weeks, agents pleaded with those who knew him to encourage his surrender. He refused.
The manhunt stretched across state lines. On April 9, 2022, Keene, New Hampshire, Police located Goodrich at a hotel, but he had already fled. A search of the room yielded evidence of his recent presence, including personal paperwork. The net finally tightened on April 19, 2022, when law enforcement discovered Goodrich attempting to arrange transportation to Texas. He was apprehended at a hotel in Deerfield, Massachusetts. Further investigation of Goodrich’s social media revealed clear evidence of drug trafficking activity in March 2022.
U.S. Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest praised the collaborative effort of the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife and the ATF. He also acknowledged the assistance of police departments in Keene, New Hampshire, Deerfield and Greenfield, Massachusetts, and the Massachusetts State Police. Colonel Justin Stedman of the Vermont Warden Service emphasized the importance of interagency cooperation, calling the case a “shining example of what law enforcement can accomplish when we work together.”
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan Ophardt, Paul Van de Graaf, and Zachary Stendig led the investigation and prosecution. Goodrich was defended by Assistant Federal Public Defender Mary Nerin. The case serves as a stark reminder that even seemingly minor wildlife violations can unravel into complex investigations exposing serious federal crimes. The streets of Vermont are a little safer with Goodrich behind bars, but the fight against drug trafficking and illegal firearms continues.
Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Weapons|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Press Release
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