Courtney Hallstrom pleads not guilty to charge that she conducted straw purchase of firearm

The United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that Courtney Hallstrom, 23, of Northfield, pleaded not guilty today in United States District Court in Burlington to a charge that she made materially false statements in connection with her purchase of a firearm. U.S. Magistrate Judge John M. Conroy ordered that Hallstrom be detained pending a July 18 bail hearing.

On July 12, 2018, a federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment accusing Hallstrom of making two false statements during her purchase of a .380 caliber semi-automatic pistol from a licensed firearms dealer on May 15, 2018. According to the indictment, Hallstrom falsely swore on the Firearms Transaction Record that she was the actual purchaser of the gun, that is, she was not buying the gun on another person’s behalf. Hallstrom allegedly also falsely claimed that she was not an unlawful user of narcotics. In fact, according to court records, it is alleged that Hallstrom traded the gun to a convicted felon in exchange for a gram of crack cocaine.

The United States Attorney emphasizes that the indictment is merely an accusation and that Hallstrom is presumed innocent unless and until she is proven guilty.