In a shocking turn of events, 66-year-old George Goins of Johnson, Vermont, has been sentenced to 57 months in prison for his involvement in a string of cocaine and gun crimes. The harsh sentence was handed down by United States District Judge William K. Sessions III on May 30, 2024.
The investigation into Goins’ crimes began on June 7, 2022, when a shooting occurred outside his apartment complex in Johnson, Vermont. A victim, who lived in the same building as Goins, confronted him near his apartment. In a brazen move, Goins pulled out a handgun and shot the victim in the neck before fleeing the scene.
Law enforcement obtained a warrant to search Goins’ apartment, where they recovered a Smith & Wesson SD9 VE 9mm semi-automatic pistol. Additionally, investigators found a Smith & Wesson .40 caliber pistol near the riverbank behind the Johnson apartment complex, which they believe was used to shoot the victim. The victim, who was treated at a hospital for their injuries, later recovered.
On June 8, 2022, law enforcement located Goins outside a hotel in South Burlington, Vermont. During a search of the hotel room, they discovered fentanyl and cocaine base. Goins was also found to be in possession of four bags of fentanyl on his person at the time of his arrest. Goins’ criminal history bars him from possessing firearms, making his involvement in the gun crimes even more egregious.
United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the collaborative investigatory efforts of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Vermont State Police, the Lamoille County Sheriff’s Department, the Morristown Police Department, the South Burlington Police Department, and the Burlington Police Department.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary Stendig. Goins was represented by Federal Public Defender Michael Desautels. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through community-based initiatives and strategic enforcement priorities. The Department of Justice launched this initiative in May 2021, with the goal of fostering trust and legitimacy in communities, supporting community-based organizations, and measuring results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
Related Federal Cases
- Vermont Man Sentenced to 57 Months for Gun and Cocaine Crimes · Vermont
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Key Facts
- State: Vermont
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime|Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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