June 18, 2009

BURLINGTON MAN SENTENCED TO NINE MONTHS FOR STRAW-PURCHASING HANDGUNS

The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that on June 17, 2009, Thomas Bouvier, 23, of Burlington, Vermont, was sentenced by the United States District Court to 9 months in prison for making false and fictitious statements to a federal firearms dealer, Powderhorn Sports, in connection with the purchase of a handgun during 2007. Also, as an unlawful user of controlled substances, Bouvier pled guilty to possessing a firearm unlawfully. The Honorable William K. Sessions, III, Chief Judge, presided at the sentencing hearing. Bouvier was also sentenced to two years of supervised release.

According to court records, Bouvier purchased 4 handguns – a Ruger, model KSP-321X, .357 caliber revolver, a Beretta, model 92 FS, 9mm semi-automatic pistol, a Kel-Tec, model PF-9, 9mm semi-automatic pistol, and a Browning, model BDA, .380 caliber semi-automatic pistol. Bouvier represented that he was the actual buyer of the firearms when, in fact, he was purchasing the guns for a third party. At the time he purchased the guns, he was an unlawful user of controlled substances and was, therefore, forbidden to possess guns.

Bouvier was indicted by a federal grand jury on June 26, 2008 and was arrested on July 8, 2008 by the United States Marshals Service. Bouvier pled guilty on February 23, 2009 to one count of making a false and fictitious statement to a federal firearms dealer and one count of possessing a gun while being an unlawful user of controlled substances.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and by the South Burlington Police Department. The Acting United States Attorney, Paul Van de Graaf, commends those agencies for their work. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney, Nancy J. Creswell. Bouvier was represented by Ernest M. Allen, III.