Burlington Standard

Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office announced that on July 18, 2024, the federal Grand Jury in Burlington returned an indictment charging Daniel McSwiggan, 51, of Rutland, Vermont, with drug and gun offenses. The two-count indictment alleges that between late June and early July 2024, McSwiggan possessed two firearms as an unlawful drug user and made his residence available for drug use and distribution. McSwiggan will be arraigned in the coming days.

According to court records, in late June and early July of this year, McSwiggan possessed two firearms while knowing he was an unlawful user of cocaine base and made his residence in Rutland available for the use and distribution of cocaine base. Court records also allege that in the early morning hours of June 24, 2024, McSwiggan shot a rifle at a suspected drug distributor outside his residence. On July 2, 2024, law enforcement executed a search warrant at McSwiggan’s residence and recovered a Savage Model 10 .308 caliber rifle, a Ruger 10/22 .22 caliber rifle, 282 rounds of ammunition, cocaine base, and drug paraphernalia.

The United States Attorney emphasizes that the charges in the indictment are accusations only and that the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, McSwiggan faces maximum penalties of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for unlawful firearm possession and 20 years in prison and a $500,000 fine for making his residence available for drug use and distribution. Any sentence will be determined by the U.S. District Court with guidance from the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines and statutory sentencing factors.

United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the investigatory efforts of Homeland Security Investigations, the Rutland City Police Department, the Rutland Town Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Vermont State Police.

The United States is represented in this matter by Assistant U.S. Attorney Corinne M. Smith. McSwiggan is represented by Federal Public Defender Michael Desautels.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and communities to reduce violent crime and gun violence to make 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 communities; supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence; setting focused enforcement priorities; and measuring results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods visit Justice.gov/PSN.