Tyler Hayes Sentenced for Bomb Possession in Vermont

Burlington, VT – A grim day in the Green Mountains as Tyler Hayes, 43, of Bennington, faces a 50-month prison sentence for his chilling crime of bomb possession. The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont announced on June 24 that Hayes was sentenced by Judge Joseph LaPlante after being convicted by a jury on February 13, 2025.

Hayes’s former residence in Bennington turned into a scene of danger when a bomb was discovered there in February 2023. The explosive device, which posed a grave risk to human life and property, was neutralized by law enforcement. The trial revealed Hayes had been plotting his deadly plans for months, even offering to trade a bomb for fentanyl, a drug with tragic consequences.

Court records and evidence painted a picture of Hayes as a man on the run after the discovery of the bomb at his home. An expert from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) confirmed that the homemade device was capable of substantial destruction if detonated, despite its seemingly simplistic construction.

The jury found Hayes guilty of violating both the National Firearms Act and the Gun Control Act, with the possibility of up to 10 years in prison for the NFA violation and up to 15 years on the GCA charge. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael P. Drescher praised the collaborative efforts of multiple law enforcement agencies, including ATF, Homeland Security Investigations, Vermont State Police, and the Bennington Police Department.

Hayes was represented by James Valente, Esq., and Chandler Matson, Esq., while Assistant U.S. Attorneys Corinne Smith and Nicole Cate prosecuted the case. This sentencing is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program dedicated to reducing violent crime and gun violence across all levels of law enforcement.

For more information on PSN, visit Justice.gov/PSN.