Brandon, Vermont Man Sentenced to 35 Months for Unlawful Firearms Possession

Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on January 27, 2026, Christopher Rantanen, 40, of Brandon, Vermont, was sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Christina Reiss to a term of 35 months’ imprisonment to be followed by a 3-year term of supervised release. Rantanen previously pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to court records, in September 2024, Rantanen was involved in a single car accident on U.S. Route 7 in Pittsford, Vermont. Rantanen denied any drug or alcohol use to responding law enforcement. While an officer wrote Rantanen tickets for numerous traffic infractions related to the crash, fire department officials on the scene alerted law enforcement that Rantanen was slumped over on a nearby bench. Thereafter, officers again asked Rantanen about his drug use, and Rantanen again denied any drug use that day. While waiting for a tow truck to arrive, law enforcement observed drug paraphernalia in plain view inside and around Rantanen’s car. Law enforcement obtained a search warrant for Rantanen’s car, and located inside the vehicle two handguns (including a privately manufactured firearm), ammunition, fentanyl, cocaine, and assorted drug paraphernalia. A few weeks later, in November 2024, law enforcement encountered Rantanen and another person in a car in Rutland, Vermont when responding to a drug-related complaint. Once Rantanen and the other person were out of the car, law enforcement observed a Glock pistol in the area near where Rantanen had been seated. A search of this car revealed approximately 13 grams of fentanyl and approximately 19 grams of crack cocaine in the area around where Rantanen was seated.

First Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt commended the collaborative investigatory efforts of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Pittsford Police Department.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Arra. Rantanen was represented by Lisa Shelkrot, Esq.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.