October 3, 2007

ST. ALBANS MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO FEDERAL GUN CHARGE

The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that Steven Murray, 45, of St. Albans, Vermont, pled guilty on October 1, 2007 in the United States District Court in Burlington, Vermont, to a one-count indictment charging him with possessing firearms after having been previously convicted of a felony. The Honorable William K. Sessions, III, United States District Judge, presided at the change of plea. Murray will remain in federal custody pending sentencing on January 22, 2008.

According to court records, Murray unlawfully possessed three guns between on or about October 14 and October 26, 2006 at his apartment at 73 Fairfield Street in St. Albans. Murray kept three rifles in a gun cabinet in the livingroom of his apartment. On October 16, 2006, he removed one of the rifles from the gun cabinet and brandished it in front of house guests. The guns were a Marlin, model 60, .22 caliber rifle, a Winchester, model Ranger, .30-30 caliber rifle, and a Savage, model 42 DLM, .22 caliber rifle. Murray has been previously convicted of aggravated domestic assault and breaking and entering a dwelling house, both felonies, in Franklin County on November 4, 2002 and June 2, 1981. As a consequence, Murray is prohibited from possessing firearms under the Gun Control Act.

Murray faces a statutory maximum sentence of up to ten years in prison and a fine of $250,000. The actual sentence will be imposed by the court with reference to the advisory federal sentencing guidelines, statutory sentencing factors, and a presentence investigation report. The sentencing hearing is scheduled for Monday, January 22, 2008 in Burlington.

United States Attorney Thomas D. Anderson commended the cooperative effort of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Northwest Unit for Special Investigations for their investigation of this crime. Murray is represented by Thomas Niksa, Esq.. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney, Nancy J. Creswell.

United States Attorney Anderson noted also that this prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhood, a nationwide commitment to reduce gun crime in America. Led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and ATF, Project Safe Neighborhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who violate federal gun laws. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhood and Project Safe Vermont, please visit: www.psn.gov.