Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that Jeremy A. Churchill, 38, of Cabot, Vermont, was sentenced today by Chief United States District Court Judge Geoffrey W. Crawford to six years in federal prison for possessing stolen handguns. Churchill pleaded guilty to the stolen firearms charge in May 2018.

According to court filings, on May 16, 2017 Churchill burglarized two residences in East Montpelier, Vermont, stealing handguns and ammunition from one of them. The Vermont State Police stopped Churchill’s vehicle that same day, seized it, and obtained a State of Vermont search warrant. Executing the warrant, they found items stolen from both residences, including two Smith & Wesson handguns and ammunition. Between May and August 2017, Churchill was implicated in four home burglaries. He faces pending charges in State court based upon those other offenses.

At sentencing before Judge Crawford today, Churchill urged that he was a drug addict with a poor childhood, warranting a lesser sentence. The government responded that he had 35 State of Vermont and New Hampshire convictions, and past leniency had failed to deter him. Churchill has 20 pending State of Vermont charges.

The U.S. Attorney thanked the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Vermont State Police, for their work on the case.

The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Darrow. Churchill was represented by Assistant Federal Public Defender David McColgin.

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