Barre City Man Charged with Possession of a Short-Barreled Shotgun and Possession of a Firearm as an Unlawful Drug User

Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office stated that Gage Garr, 33, of Barre City, Vermont, has been indicted for possession of a short-barreled shotgun and possession of a firearm as an unlawful user of a controlled substance. A federal grand jury in Burlington issued the indictment, and Garr was arraigned yesterday in Burlington.

At his arraignment, Garr pleaded not guilty to the charges. U. S. Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle ordered Garr to remain in the custody of the United States Marshals pending trial.

According to court records, Garr was discovered asleep in his vehicle on November 26, 2023. He was found to be in possession of suspected drugs and drug paraphernalia, as well as a short-barreled shotgun for which he did not have proper registration. Garr had pending state charges against him at the time.

The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that the charges in the indictment are accusations only and that Garr is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Garr faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for the possession of the short-barreled shotgun and 15 years in prison for possessing a firearm as an unlawful user of a controlled substance. Any ultimate sentence will be determined by the Court with guidance from the advisory Federal Sentencing Guidelines and the United States Code.

United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the investigatory and collaborative efforts of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF); the Barre City Police Department; the Randolph Police Department; and the Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles Enforcement and Safety.

The United States is represented in this matter by Assistant U.S. Attorney Corinne M. Smith.  Garr is represented by Devin McLaughlin, Esq.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.