St. Albans Man Charged with Possessing Firearm as Convicted Felon

Burlington, Vermont – The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that on May 2, 2024, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Quentin Suggs, 37, of St. Albans, Vermont, with possessing a firearm after having been previously convicted of a felony.

Suggs entered a plea of not guilty to the charges during an arraignment on May 29, 2024, before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle. Judge Doyle ordered that Suggs be detained pending further proceedings in this matter.

According to court records, Milton, Vermont police responded to reports of an active home invasion on March 25, 2024. Upon arrival, officers located an injured man later identified as Suggs. Interviews of witnesses and bystander video footage revealed that Suggs had broken into the backdoor of a residence while brandishing a handgun, resulting in an occupant of the residence resisting Suggs and ultimately disarming him. Law enforcement recovered a .380 Bersa handgun at the scene with a defaced serial number, which witnesses reported Suggs had possessed, as well as a backpack attributed to Suggs that contained zip ties and a hammer. Suggs is prohibited from possessing firearms due to a 2012 conviction for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that an indictment contains allegations only and that Suggs is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. Suggs faces up to 15 years of imprisonment if convicted. The actual sentence, however, would be determined by the 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 Milton Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

The prosecutor is Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan Ophardt. Suggs is represented by Jessica L. Burke, Esq. and Assistant Federal Public Defender Steven L. Barth.

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.