Weathersfield Man Charged with Possession of Eleven Firearms as a Convicted Felon and Possessing Firearms in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking

Burlington, Vermont – The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that on January 21, 2026, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Marshall Gagne, 35, of Weathersfield, Vermont, with possession of firearms as a convicted felon, possessing fentanyl and cocaine with the intent to distribute, and possessing firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking. Gagne’s arraignment is scheduled to occur on February 23, 2026, before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle.

According to court records, on May 19, 2025, Gagne was arrested in a hotel room in Claremont, New Hampshire with six other individuals, after law enforcement forced entry to discover evidence of firearms and illicit drugs recently having been flushed down the drain. Gagne was carrying more than $11,000 and a backpack with fentanyl and cocaine residue on its strap. The next day, on May 20, 2025, a search warrant was executed at a Weathersfield, Vermont residence linked to Gagne. During the search, law enforcement found thousands more in suspected drug proceeds and a dozen firearms, including privately made “ghost” guns and a silencer. The camping trailer where the firearms were kept also contained the box for the handgun found in the hotel room where Gagne was arrested the night before. Gagne had previously been convicted of multiple felonies and was prohibited from possessing firearms.

The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that an indictment contains allegations only and that Marshall Gagne is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. If convicted, Gagne faces up to 15 years for possession of firearms, 20 years for drug distribution, and a consecutive sentence of at least five years for possessing firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking. The actual sentence, however, would be determined by the District Court with guidance from the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines and the statutory sentencing factors.

First Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt commended the investigatory efforts of the Vermont State Police, the Vermont Drug Task Force, the FBI, the Claremont New Hampshire Police Department, the Hartford Vermont Police Department, and the Brattleboro Police Department.

The prosecutor is Assistant United States Attorney Dana E. Hill. An attorney for Gagne has not yet been appointed or appeared on his behalf.

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.