Richard J. Vardenski, 57, of Charlestown, Massachusetts was sentenced on March 27 to 66 months in prison and three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to robbing a convenience store in Burlington’s Old North End, according to the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont.
The case highlights efforts by law enforcement to address violent crime and protect local communities. The sentence was handed down by United States District Judge Mary Kay Lanthier.
Court records show that on August 25, 2024, Vardenski entered a convenience store in the Old North End neighborhood, pointed what appeared to be a pistol at the clerk, demanded money, and took about $500 from the register along with a pack of cigarettes before fleeing in a Volvo. Investigators later determined that the weapon used was actually a BB-gun. At the time of this offense, Vardenski was already on federal supervised release following previous convictions for bank robbery and assault with intent to do bodily harm.
First Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt said he commended “the collaborative investigatory efforts of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Burlington Police Department.” Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua L. Banker prosecuted the case while Evan Barquist represented Vardenski.
This prosecution is part of Operation Take Back America—a nationwide initiative led by the Department of Justice aiming to counter illegal immigration and eliminate cartels as well as transnational criminal organizations.
