Rutland Woman Sentenced for Making False Statements when Purchasing a Firearm

Burlington, Vermont – The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that Morgan Gates, 28, of Rutland, Vermont, was sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Geoffrey W. Crawford to time served (after serving approximately 10 months in prison) for making false statements to a federal firearms dealer in connection with the purchase of a firearm. Judge Crawford also ordered that Gates serve three years of supervised release starting today. 

According to court documents, on June 29, 2022, Gates attempted to purchase a firearm at a Rutland dealer with a federal firearms license (“the FFL”).  The FFL had reason to believe that Gates was an active drug user, delayed her purchase, and contacted the Rutland Police Department. While law enforcement investigated the attempted purchase, Rutland Police detectives learned that Gates had successfully purchased a Glock Model 45 9x19mm handgun from a different FFL located in Rutland on June 29, 2022. In coordination with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and Homeland Security Investigations, Rutland Police detectives located Gates on June 30, 2022 and arrested her. A search of Gates’s residence in Rutland did not recover the Glock firearm but did result in the seizure of ammunition of multiple calibers, an empty box of 9x19mm ammunition, and evidence that demonstrated Gates’ participation in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine base. The Glock Model 45 9x19mm handgun purchased by Gates was ultimately recovered on July 19, 2022, in Rutland, Vermont.
 
This case was investigated by the Rutland Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and Homeland Security Investigations.

Assistant United States Attorneys Jonathan Ophardt and Zachary Stendig represented the government. Katina Ready, Esq. represented Gates.

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 .