MADISON, WIS. -- John W. Vaudreuil, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Matthew D. Rust, 33, Madison, Wis., pleaded guilty today in federal court in Madison to possessing a firearm in the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, a federal facility.
On Oct. 15, 2014, Rust brought a loaded Sig Sauer 9mm semi-automatic pistol into the Madison VA hospital inside his backpack. Notices were posted outside the VAMC building entrances alerting visitors that firearms are prohibited. Further, Rust previously had been personally informed of the prohibition.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephen L. Crocker scheduled sentencing for June 5, 2015. For this misdemeanor offense, Rust faces a maximum penalty of one year in prison and a $100,000 fine.
The charge against Rust was the result of an investigation conducted by the Veterans Affairs Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Burke.
