Vermont Man Charged with Illegal Firearm Possession

Burlington, Vermont – The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced today that on April 25, 2024, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Travis Collins, age 42, formerly of Chittenden County, Vermont with being a felon in possession of a firearm. Collins entered a plea of not guilty to the charges during an arraignment on September 24, 2024 before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle. Judge Doyle ordered that Collins be detained during the pendency of this matter.

According to court records, on January 9, 2024, Collins was arrested in downtown Burlington, Vermont, on outstanding State of Vermont warrants. At the time he was arrested, Collins was wearing a backpack that contained a loaded pistol. The pistol, which had an obliterated serial number, was later determined to have been stolen. Collins was held in state custody until his appearance in federal court on September 24.

The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that an indictment contains allegations only and that Collins is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. Collins faces up to 15 years’ 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 United States Marshals Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

The prosecutor is Assistant United States Attorney Nicole Cate. Collins is represented by Assistant Federal Public Defender Sara Puls.

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.