Source: Office of United States Attorneys
Burlington, Vermont – The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that on January 16, 2025, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Kyle Pickett, 30, of Windsor County, Vermont, with being a felon in possession of two firearms.
Pickett entered a plea of not guilty to the charges during an arraignment on January 23, 2025, before United States Magistrate Judge Jerome J. Niedermeier. Judge Niedermeier ordered that Pickett be detained during the pendency of this matter.
According to court records, on November 25, 2023, Pickett possessed two loaded firearms, a Winchester Model 62 .22 rifle and a Winchester Model 42 410 shotgun, in a Ford Ranger pick-up truck, which had been stolen from a residence in Orange County, Vermont. Pickett had multiple prior felony convictions, and thus was prohibited from possessing those firearms.
The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that an indictment contains allegations only and that Pickett is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. Pickett faces up to 15 years’ imprisonment if convicted. 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.
Acting United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher commended the investigatory efforts of Homeland Security Investigations and the Windsor County Sheriff’s Department.
The prosecutor is Assistant United States Attorney Andrew C. Gilman. Pickett is represented by Sara M. Puls, Assistant 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 Justice.gov/PSN.