ST. ALBANS, VT – In a shocking case of firearms trafficking, five residents of St. Albans, Vermont, have been arrested and charged with knowingly providing false information to firearms dealers in connection with the purchase of 30 firearms.
The defendants, Tyson Wells, Dara Bessette, Sierra Lacoste, Laci Baker, and Megan West, were arrested on September 13, 2018, and appeared before United States Magistrate Judge John M. Conroy in federal court in Burlington. They entered pleas of not guilty to the federal complaint charging them with false statements in connection with the purchase of firearms.
According to the criminal complaint, the defendants provided or helped to provide false information to gun shops, stating that they were purchasing the firearms for themselves and not for another person. In reality, these defendants conducted ‘straw-purchases’ of firearms in exchange for either cocaine or heroin from drug dealers operating in Saint Albans and Swanton, Vermont.
The defendants completed firearm transaction forms when purchasing the firearms, falsely stating that they were the actual buyers and were not unlawful users of any controlled substances. The gun shops they patronized in Vermont are currently licensed by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives as federal firearms licensees and were not aware of the falsehoods involved in the straw-purchases.
U.S. Attorney Christina Nolan commended the collaborative investigation of ATF and the St. Albans Police Department leading to these important arrests. ‘This case highlights the commitment of the U.S. Attorney’s Office to prioritize firearms offenses,’ said Nolan. ‘Those who violate gun laws by diverting weapons to the black market endanger innocent citizens and empower dangerous criminals.’
If convicted, Wells, Bessette, Lacoste, Baker, and West each faces up to ten years of imprisonment. The actual sentence would be determined by the Court with guidance from the advisory Federal Sentencing Guidelines. The United States Attorney emphasizes that the charges in the complaint are merely accusations and that the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
‘The straw purchasing and illegal trafficking of firearms is a serious criminal activity and often puts firearms in the hands of individuals who can’t legally purchase or possess them,’ said Lawrence Panetta, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division.
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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The United States Attorney emphasizes that the charges in the complaint are merely accusations and that the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
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- Eight Men, Child Pornography Possession and Promotion, Vermont 2024 · Washington
- Human Trafficking, Vermont 2023 · Washington
- Dennis Martin, Illegal Firearm Possession, Vermont 2019 · Vermont
Key Facts
- State: Vermont
- Category: Violent Crime|Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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