A Winooski man has been sentenced to 45 months in prison for his role in a firearm offense. Tyler Branon, 33, of Winooski, Vermont, was sentenced in United States District Court in Burlington, Vermont on August 29, 2022, after pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense.
According to court records and proceedings, in January 2021, Branon was asked to drive a man from Colchester, Vermont, to St. Albans, Vermont, so the man could consummate a drug deal. The man was to buy approximately one-quarter ounce of cocaine base (crack cocaine) and was to sell Percocet pills in exchange for a firearm. Branon agreed and drove the man to St. Albans, where the drug transaction took place. Upon their return to Colchester, the man gave Branon crack cocaine as compensation and gave the firearm to Branon to hold.
U.S. Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the efforts of the Winooski, Vermont Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives in the investigation and prosecution of Branon. Assistant U.S. Attorney Barbara A. Masterson handled the prosecution of Branon, while Michael Shklar, Esq., represented Branon.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, this program was strengthened with a violent crime reduction strategy based on core principles of fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Branon’s sentence includes a three-year term of supervised release and a $100 special assessment. The investigation and prosecution of this case was made possible by the collaborative efforts of the Winooski, Vermont Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives.
The United States Attorney’s Office would like to thank the Winooski, Vermont Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives for their dedication and hard work in investigating and prosecuting this case. The Office will continue to work tirelessly to reduce violent crime and make our communities safer.
For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psn.
Key Facts
- State: Vermont
- Category: Violent Crime|Weapons
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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