Vermont Man Sentenced for Firearm and Drug Charges

Marshall Gagne, a 35-year-old resident of Weathersfield, Vermont, has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for firearm and drug-related offenses. The sentence was handed down by United States District Judge Geoffrey W. Crawford on October 14, 2026, and includes a subsequent three-year term of supervised release, the U.

S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont announced.

Gagne pleaded guilty on June 10, 2026, to charges of possessing firearms as a convicted felon and possessing controlled substances with intent to distribute. His legal troubles began when he was arrested on May 19, 2025, in a hotel room in Claremont, New Hampshire. At the time of his arrest, Gagne was found with over $11,000 in cash and a backpack with fentanyl residue. DNA evidence linked him to a handgun discovered in the hotel room.

The following day, Vermont State Police executed a search warrant at a residence in Weathersfield, Vermont, where Gagne was staying. The search uncovered additional drug proceeds amounting to thousands of dollars, along with 13 firearms. Among the firearms were un-serialized 'ghost' guns, a silencer with a scratched-off serial number, ammunition, and various gun parts. Law enforcement also found the box for the handgun Gagne had in the hotel room.

Gagne, who has a prior felony conviction, was legally prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition. Furthermore, he attempted to obstruct justice by coaching a witness to falsely claim that he had sold a camping van to a drug dealer who was later fatally shot. However, DNA evidence revealed that only Gagne's DNA was present on the seized firearms, contradicting his claim.

The case was a collaborative effort involving the Vermont State Police, the FBI, and the Claremont Police Department. First Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt praised the investigatory work of these agencies.

The prosecution was led by Assistant U. S. Attorney Dana E.

Hill, while Gagne was represented by Federal Public Defender Alejandro Fernandez.

This case is part of the Department of Justice's Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a nationwide initiative aimed at reducing violent crime. PSN emphasizes rapid federal response, strategic law enforcement partnerships, and accountability through prosecution. The initiative is a key component of Operation Take Back America, which seeks to enhance public safety across the country.