Ryan Goodrich, Unlawful Possession of Firearms, Vermont 2022

ATHENS, Vermont – In a shocking turn of events, 37-year-old Ryan Goodrich of Athens, Vermont has been charged with unlawful possession of firearms and heroin. According to court records, Goodrich’s troubles began in late winter of 2022 when Vermont Game Wardens started investigating him for violations of fish and wildlife regulations.

During their investigation, the wardens obtained a search warrant for Goodrich’s Facebook account, which revealed a photograph of a short-barrel shotgun. The messages within the account revealed Goodrich had discharged the weapon and likely possessed it at his residence.

The wardens coordinated with agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives to execute a search warrant at Goodrich’s residence on March 3, 2022. During the search, agents located the short-barrel shotgun (which was loaded), multiple additional shotguns, multiple rifles (including an AR-style rifle), 2,978 rounds of ammunition, $6,000 in U.S. Currency, and 880 bags of heroin.

After the warrant was executed, the federal grand jury returned an indictment on March 10, 2022. Agents attempted to locate Goodrich in and around Athens, and in doing so, encouraged people who knew him to have Goodrich turn himself in to law enforcement. Goodrich did not do so. On April 9, 2022, Keene, New Hampshire Police located Goodrich at a hotel in Keene. Officers obtained a search warrant for the hotel room, but Goodrich was not inside when it was executed.

Agents found evidence of Goodrich’s prior presence, including personal paperwork in a backpack. On April 19, 2022, law enforcement learned that Goodrich was attempting to obtain transportation to Texas. Goodrich was subsequently located and apprehended at a hotel in Deerfield, Massachusetts.

The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that an indictment contains allegations only and that Goodrich remains presumed innocent until and unless he is convicted of a crime. Goodrich faces a maximum sentence of 10 years of imprisonment on each firearm violation.

Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan Ophardt is prosecuting the case. Goodrich is represented by Assistant Federal Public Defender Mary Nerino. This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program.

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