Lawrence A. Griffen, Jr., 50, of Williamstown, Vermont, is headed to federal prison after being sentenced to 12 months and a day for selling firearms to an undercover agent. The conviction marks the latest chapter in a criminal pattern tied to illegal transactions, this time crossing into dangerous territory with the sale of five guns in three separate deals.
U.S. District Court Judge William K. Sessions, III handed down the sentence in Burlington, rejecting Griffen’s plea for home detention despite his claims of serious medical conditions. Griffen, a convicted felon with prior federal and state felony convictions tied to motor vehicle fraud, admitted in November 2017 to selling a semi-automatic pistol — one of the five firearms transferred during the undercover operation.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) moved in last summer, arresting Griffen after agents intercepted the illegal transactions. The sting operation underscored the ease with which prohibited persons can funnel weapons into circulation — and the federal crackdown that follows when they’re caught.
At sentencing, Griffen’s attorney, Kevin Henry of Burlington, pushed for leniency, citing the defendant’s health struggles and need for ongoing medical care. But Judge Sessions noted a troubling history: probation terms handed down by Vermont state courts in 2013 and 2014 failed to deter Griffen from committing federal firearms offenses just years later.
Though the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines recommended 24 to 30 months behind bars, Sessions opted for a downward variance, ordering Griffen to surrender to the Federal Medical Center in Devens, Massachusetts, on April 10. The facility specializes in inmates with significant medical needs. The court also imposed a $100 special assessment and a two-year term of supervised release upon completion of the prison term.
The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney William Darrow. The case reflects the DOJ’s ongoing efforts to target felons trafficking in firearms, especially those who repeatedly exploit second chances — only to reoffend with escalating consequences.
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