Veronica Lewis, Possession of Stolen Firearm, Vermont 2015

BURLINGTON, VT – Veronica Lewis is facing federal charges after allegedly possessing a stolen firearm and violating federal law prohibiting individuals adjudicated mentally defective from owning weapons. The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont announced the charges yesterday, stemming from a 2015 incident and a subsequent investigation.

Lewis, who was arrested this morning, is charged with unlawfully possessing a firearm after being found mentally defective, a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(4), and possessing a stolen firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(j). She is scheduled to appear in federal court in Burlington today. If convicted on either count, Lewis faces a maximum sentence of ten years imprisonment.

Court records reveal a troubling history. Lewis was previously adjudicated as mentally defective on October 16, 2013, by the Queens County Criminal Court, due to a judicial finding of mental incapacity. This ruling legally barred her from owning firearms or ammunition. The current charges are compounded by allegations that on June 29, 2015, Lewis shot firearms instructor Darryl Montague in Westford, Vermont, with a Smith & Wesson Model K-22 .22 caliber revolver.

Following the shooting, Lewis allegedly fled the scene, absconding with Montague’s firearm and ammunition. She was apprehended later that day, and Montague’s weapon was recovered from her backpack. Investigators also reportedly found Lewis attempting to conceal .22 caliber ammunition inside a toilet paper roll in her holding cell – a clear indication of intent to retain illegal weaponry.

U.S. Attorney Christina E. Nolan was quick to praise the work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Vermont State Police (VSP) in building the case against Lewis. “These charges represent a serious breach of federal law and a potential threat to public safety,” a source within the investigation stated. It’s a tangled web of prior rulings and violent acts.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Ophardt is prosecuting the case. Lewis is being represented by the Office of the Federal Public Defender. It is crucial to remember that these are accusations, and Lewis is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. The sentencing, should she be convicted, will be determined by the court, guided by the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on any developments.

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