June 10, 2008

SPRINGFIELD, VERMONT MAN SENTENCED TO 30 MONTHS FOR POSSESSING STOLEN HANDGUNS

The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that Russell Gaspar, 24, of Springfield, Vermont, was sentenced on June 9, 2008 to 30 months in prison after his guilty plea to charges that he possessed four handguns stolen from the Sporting & Hunting Depot in Charlestown, New Hampshire on August 28, 2007. United States District Judge J. Garvan Murtha, sitting in Brattleboro, also sentenced Gaspar to two years of supervised release and ordered him to pay restitution.

According to Court records, Gaspar burglarized the Sporting & Hunting Depot on August 28, 2007, stole four handguns, and brought them back to Vermont. Gaspar subsequently traded the stolen handguns, which have not been recovered, for drugs and cash.

The United States Attorney commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for their hard work on this matter. The prosecutor is Assistant United States Attorney Timothy C. Doherty, Jr. The defendant is represented by Attorney John C. Mabie.

U.S. Attorney Anderson noted 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 the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, 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.