Shane Hardy, a 46-year-old resident of St. Albans, Vermont, was sentenced to 42 months in prison for unlawful possession of stolen firearms. The sentencing took place on June 20, 2025, and was presided over by United States District Judge Geoffrey W. Crawford. Following his prison term, Hardy will undergo two years of supervised release.
Court records reveal that Hardy has a significant criminal background, including a manslaughter conviction in New York State that resulted in over ten years of incarceration. Despite being aware of his prohibition from possessing firearms, Hardy showed interest in them and accepted four stolen firearms as payment for a drug debt and cocaine in October 2023. He then transported the firearms by placing them into an SUV with New Jersey license plates.
Acting United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher praised the investigative work conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The prosecution was led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Arra, while Emily Kenyon and Barclay Johnson from the Office of the Federal Public Defender represented Hardy.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities. Launched on May 26, 2021, PSN focuses on building trust within communities, supporting violence prevention organizations, setting strategic enforcement priorities, and evaluating outcomes.
For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, visit Justice.gov/PSN.
