January 28, 2008
BRISTOL RESIDENT SENTENCED TO 60-DAYS IMPRISONMENT FOR TRADING FIVE GUNS FOR COCAINE
The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that Andrew Carter, 36, of Bristol, Vermont, was recently sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge J. Garvan Murtha to 60 days imprisonment for his role in conspiracy to trade guns for cocaine. After completing his prison sentence, Carter will be on Federal Supervised Release for two years.
According to court records, Carter provided three handguns, a shotgun, and a rifle to Richard Ayala, 32, in early 2005 with the understanding that Ayala would trade them for cocaine in New York City. On May 7, 2005 Ayala was questioned by Massachusetts State Police in Springfield, Massachusetts for driving a vehicle without the proper Vermont registration. The troopers conducted an inventory search of the vehicle and found the guns in the trunk. Ayala admitted that he knew about the firearms and that he was transporting them to New York City to trade for cocaine and money.
Alaya, who is formerly from Bristol, Bridport and Vergennes, was sentenced last September by Judge Murtha to two years imprisonment to be followed by three years of Federal Supervised Release.
At the sentencing hearing, the United States recommended that the Court sentence the defendant at the low end of the advisory Federal Sentencing Guidelines range, which provided for a sentence of between 37 to 46 months. The United States argued that a significant sentence was warranted because the crime of providing firearms to a drug dealer was inherently dangerous and greatly exacerbates the risk of violence associated with the illegal drug trade. Judge Murtha decided not to follow the Sentencing Guidelines based on the defendant’s limited role as a drug user and that he was the primary care giver for his son.
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.
This case was investigated jointly by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms and the Massachusetts State Police. The defendant is represented by Barbara O’Connor, Esq. United States is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Perella.
