The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that Robert Renner, 49, of Burlington, Vermont, was charged today by criminal complaint with unlawfully possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Renner is scheduled to appear on the charge before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle on Monday, October 18, 2021.
According to court records, Renner was found in possession of four firearms during the execution of a Vermont state search warrant on October 13, 2021. State law enforcement with the assistance of agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives searched Renner’s camper vehicle which was parked on Sears Lane in Burlington. The search of Renner’s camper also yielded ammunition and suspected controlled substances. Renner is prohibited from possessing firearms under federal law due to his criminal record.
If convicted of the charge alleged in the complaint, Renner faces a maximum sentence of ten years of imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, would be determined by the Court with guidance from the advisory Federal Sentencing Guidelines. The Acting United States Attorney emphasizes that the charge in the criminal complaint is merely an accusation, and that the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until he is proven guilty.
The United States is represented in this matter by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Van de Graaf. Assistant Federal Public Defender Sara M. Puls represents the defendant.
This case is part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. The United States Attorney’s Office has prosecuted this case with support from the following Project Guardian and other law enforcement partners: the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Drug Enforcement Administration; and the Winooski Police Department. For more information about Project Guardian, please see http://www.justice.gov/projectguardian/.
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