Rutland Man with Prior Felony Conviction Charged with Possessing Stolen Firearm

The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that Nicholas Karov, 38, of Rutland, Vermont was charged yesterday by criminal complaint for unlawfully possessing a stolen firearm and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.  Karov was arrested yesterday after he was released on conditions following an appearance in Vermont Superior Court on related Grand Larceny charges.  Karov is scheduled to appear before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle on Wednesday, November 2, 2022.

According to court records, on October 28, 2022, Karov was observed standing on the driver’s side running board of the theft victim’s Ford F-250 truck.  When the victim yelled at Karov, Karov fled.  The victim chased and apprehended Karov, and found Karov to be in possession of the victim’s CMMG Banshee .45 caliber pistol.  Karov has multiple prior felony convictions and is therefore prohibited from possessing firearms under federal law.  Court records indicate that at the time of his October 28, 2022 arrest, Karov had approximately 26 pending charges in Vermont Superior Court, with numerous arrests over the past two years.

The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that a criminal complaint contains allegations only and that Karov remains presumed innocent until and unless he is convicted of a crime.  Karov faces a maximum sentence of 15 years of imprisonment for unlawfully possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, and a maximum sentence of 10 years of imprisonment for unlawfully possessing a stolen firearm.

United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the investigatory efforts of the Rutland City Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations.  

The prosecutor is Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan Ophardt.  Karov is represented by the Office of the Federal Public Defender. 

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 https://www.justice.gov/psn