St. Albans Man Gets 42 Months for Unlawful Gun Possession

Shane Hardy, 46, of St. Albans, Vermont, has been sentenced to 42 months in prison for the unlawful possession of stolen firearms, according to the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont.

Hardy, originally from Bedford-Stuyvesant, New York, accepted four stolen firearms as payment for a drug debt and a quantity of cocaine in October 2023, despite knowing he was prohibited from possessing firearms.

According to court records, Hardy has a serious criminal history, including a conviction for manslaughter in New York State for which he was incarcerated for over a decade.

Hardy then facilitated the transportation of the guns by carrying them into an SUV with New Jersey license plates. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) investigated the case, and Hardy was subsequently charged.

Acting United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher commended the ATF’s investigatory efforts, stating that they played a crucial role in bringing Hardy to justice.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Arra, with Hardy represented by Emily Kenyon and Barclay Johnson of the Office of the Federal Public Defender.

As part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative, this case aims to reduce violent crime and gun violence in Vermont communities. The DOJ launched PSN in May 2021, focusing on fostering trust and legitimacy, supporting community-based organizations, and setting strategic enforcement priorities.