Grafton, Vermont Man Charged with Illegal Possession of a Firearm

Burlington, Vermont - The United States Attorney's Office stated that Terry Russ, 42, of Grafton, Vermont, has been charged by criminal complaint with possessing a firearm, knowing that he had previously been convicted of a felony.

On October 23, 2024, Russ appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle, who ordered that Russ be detained during the pendency of this matter.

According to court records, a search warrant was executed at Russ's residence in Grafton on October 22, 2024. During execution of the search warrant, law enforcement recovered three firearms from the bedroom Russ had identified as his. An on-and-off housemate of Russ's, who was also present, stated that he had purchased cocaine base and fentanyl/heroin from Russ in Russ's bedroom and that Russ displayed a silver pistol next to the drugs he was selling. The housemate's description of the silver pistol's appearance was consistent with that of one of the firearms recovered from Russ's bedroom.

The United States Attorney's Office emphasizes that the complaint contains allegations only and that Russ is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. Russ faces up to 15 years in prison 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.

United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the investigatory efforts of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Vermont State Police, and the Springfield, Massachusetts Police Department.

The prosecutor is Assistant United States Attorney Corinne Smith. Russ is represented by Robert Behrens, Esq.

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.