The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that, on Jan. 27, 2020, Roland Alston, age 35, was sentenced to 52 months in jail by Chief Judge Geoffrey Crawford in United States District Court in Rutland, Vermont. Alston had previously pleaded guilty to possessing a handgun as a convicted felon in December 2018. At the time of the plea, Alston also admitted that he possessed the firearm in connection with his drug trafficking. Judge Crawford also imposed a three-year period of supervised release to be served after Alston completed his jail sentence.
On Dec. 19, 2018, Barre police arrested Alston at a residence on 30 Eastern Ave. after finding a.22 caliber North American Arms Black Widow handgun, ammunition, crack cocaine, and Xanax in Alston’s bedroom. Alston admitted at sentencing that he had also possessed at least two other firearms. Court records show that Alston was engaged in drug trafficking both before and after his state arrest in December 2018. Alston was arrested on the federal charges in May 2019 and held in jail pending his plea and sentence.
The case resulted from the collaborative efforts of the Barre Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. Assistant United States Attorney Paul J. Van de Graaf represented the government. Alston was represented by Assistant Federal Public Defender Steven Barth.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
