The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that George Goins, 65, of Johnson, Vermont, made his initial appearance today in United States District Court. Appearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle, Goins pleaded not guilty to charges of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, felon in possession of a firearm, and conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. Goins was detained pending further proceedings in the case.
According to court records, on June 8, 2022, Goins was arrested following an investigation into a shooting that occurred outside of Goins’ apartment complex in Johnson, Vermont on June 7, 2022.
In the early morning hours of June 7, 2022, the victim, who lived in the same apartment building as Goins, confronted Goins near his apartment. Goins took a handgun from his pocket, shot the victim in the neck, and fled. Law enforcement later obtained a warrant to search Goins’ apartment where they recovered a Smith & Wesson SD9 VE 9mm semi-automatic pistol. From a riverbank behind the Johnson apartment complex, investigators recovered a Smith & Wesson .40 caliber pistol. Based on the caliber and characteristics of the weapon, investigators believe that the gun found near the riverbank was used to shoot the victim. The victim was treated at a hospital for injuries and later released. Goins is prohibited from possessing firearms due to his criminal history.
On June 8, 2022, law enforcement located Goins outside of a hotel in South Burlington, Vermont. Law enforcement recovered fentanyl and cocaine base in Goins’ hotel room. Goins also had four bags of fentanyl on his person at the time of his arrest.
If convicted of the possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, Goins faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment and up to a $250,000 fine. For the felon in possession of a firearm charge, Goins faces a maximum sentence of 10 years incarceration and up to a $250,000 fine. For the drug charge, Goins faces a maximum sentence of 20 years and up to a $1,000,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, would be determined by the Court with guidance from the advisory Federal Sentencing Guidelines. The United States Attorney emphasizes that the charges in the indictment are merely accusations, and that the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until he is proven guilty.
Goins also faces charges for Attempted Murder, Assault, Drug Trafficking, and other offenses in Vermont State Court. Those charges are being prosecuted by the Office of the State’s Attorney for Lamoille County.
This case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Vermont State Police, the Lamoille County Sherriff’s Department, the Morristown Police Department, the South Burlington Police Department, and the Burlington Police Department. The United States is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary Stendig. Goins is represented by Federal Public Defender Michael L. Desautels.
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 https://www.justice.gov/psn