RUTLAND — A Rutland woman has been sentenced to time served and three years of supervised release after making false statements while purchasing a firearm, according to the Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont.
Morgan Gates, 28, was sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Geoffrey W. Crawford after serving approximately 10 months in prison.
Court documents revealed that on June 29, 2022, Gates attempted to buy a firearm at a Rutland dealer with a federal firearms license (FFL).
The dealer, suspecting that Gates was an active drug user, delayed the purchase and notified the Rutland Police Department.
During the ensuing investigation, detectives discovered that Gates had successfully purchased a Glock Model 45 9x19mm handgun from another FFL in Rutland on the same day.
Rutland Police, working in collaboration with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and Homeland Security Investigations, arrested Gates on June 30, 2022.
A search of her residence did not recover the Glock firearm but led to the seizure of various types of ammunition, an empty box of 9x19mm ammunition, and evidence of Gates’ involvement in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine base.
The Glock Model 45 9x19mm handgun bought by Gates was eventually recovered on July 19, 2022, in Rutland, Vermont.
The Rutland Police Department, the ATF, and Homeland Security Investigations were all involved in the investigation of this case. Assistant United States Attorneys Jonathan Ophardt and Zach led the prosecution.
