A Windsor County man, Kyle Pickett, has been charged with being a felon in possession of firearms. The United States Attorney's Office for the District of Vermont announced that a federal grand jury returned an indictment against Pickett on January 16, 2025.
During his arraignment on January 23, 2025, before United States Magistrate Judge Jerome J. Niedermeier, Pickett pleaded not guilty to the charges. Judge Niedermeier ordered his detention pending further proceedings.
Court records indicate that on November 25, 2023, Pickett had two loaded firearms—a Winchester Model 62 .22 rifle and a Winchester Model 42 410 shotgun—in a stolen Ford Ranger pick-up truck from Orange County, Vermont. Due to prior felony convictions, Pickett was prohibited from possessing firearms.
The United States Attorney’s Office clarified that the indictment consists only of allegations and emphasized that Pickett is presumed innocent until proven guilty. If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in prison; however, the final sentence will be determined by the District Court following advisory guidelines and statutory factors.
Acting United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher praised Homeland Security Investigations and the Windsor County Sheriff’s Department for their investigatory work. Assistant United States Attorney Andrew C. Gilman is prosecuting the case while Sara M. Puls serves as Pickett's defense attorney.
This case falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement and communities. For more information about PSN, visit Justice.gov/PSN.