Proctor Man Sentenced for Being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm

The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that on October 25, 2021, Robert Callahan, 37, of Proctor, Vermont, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge William K. Sessions III to serve 18 months in prison for possessing a firearm after having been previously convicted of a felony offense.  Judge Sessions also ordered Callahan to serve a two-year term of supervised release.  

According to court records and proceedings, on November 13, 2020, Rutland City Police Officers were searching for a man in Castleton related to a criminal investigation.  Officers located the man riding in Callahan’s vehicle.  After Callahan consented to a search of his vehicle, law enforcement discovered drugs and drug paraphernalia inside.  After Callahan was arrested, a search of his person revealed a loaded Taurus 9mm handgun in Callahan’s waistband.  Callahan was determined to be a felon, having been convicted in 2005 of conspiracy to distribute heroin.  

Acting U.S. Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt commended the efforts of the Rutland City Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives in the investigation and prosecution of Callahan.  

Assistant U.S. Attorney Barbara A. Masterson handled the prosecution of Callahan.  Assistant Federal Public Defender David L. McColgin represented Callahan.

This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.  https://www.justice.gov/psn