Burlington Standard

On December 16, 2024, Sharad Collier, a 27-year-old from Hartford, Connecticut, was sentenced to 18 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. The sentence was delivered by United States District Judge William K. Sessions III after Collier pleaded guilty to being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm.

Court records indicate that on February 28, 2023, Collier fled from a residence in Morristown, Vermont during a law enforcement operation where other individuals were arrested. He was tracked to a nearby shed-like structure and refused to come out for about two hours before surrendering. A subsequent search of the residence revealed a Glock Model 23 .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol in the bedroom he had occupied. Collier admitted to investigators that he was an unlawful user of controlled substances at that time, making him prohibited from possessing firearms. Further investigation showed his involvement in trafficking cocaine base and fentanyl in Vermont during February 2023.

United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest acknowledged the efforts of multiple law enforcement agencies including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Morristown Police Department, Stowe Police Department, Lamoille County Sheriff’s Department, and Vermont State Police.

The case prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary Stendig while Allan Sullivan represented Collier.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through collaborative efforts between law enforcement and communities. The program emphasizes trust-building within communities, supporting violence prevention organizations, strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring outcomes.

For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods visit Justice.gov/PSN.