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Description: Burlington, Vermont criminal lawyer represented Defendant charged with providing false or fictitious statements to a federally licensed dealer of firearms in connection with her acquisition of a firearm.

Marissa Byrd, age 30, from Burlington, Vermont, pleaded guilty to the offense on April 29, 2022. The defendant acknowledged having purchased a firearm from Parro’s Gun Shop in Waterbury, Vermont in March 2021 at the request of another individual, who provided her money to complete the purchase. After acquiring the handgun, Byrd transferred it to the other individual, whom Byrd knew was prohibited from possessing firearms under federal law. As part of the purchase of the firearm, Byrd completed an ATF form falsely indicating that she was the actual purchaser of the firearm. This type of offense is commonly known as “straw purchasing,” and it is punishable by up to ten years of imprisonment.

At the sentencing hearing, both the government and defense counsel recommended a probationary sentence in light of, among other things, Byrd’s prompt acceptance of responsibility for her offense and her performance on pretrial release during the pendency of this case.

United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the investigatory efforts of Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Lasher handled the prosecution.

18:922(a)(6) and 924(a)(2).F PENALTIES FOR FIREARMS - knowingly made a false statement in connection with the acquisition of a firearm
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Outcome: Defendant was sentenced to two years' of probation.

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Defendant's Experts:

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