Nikolas Kerest U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the District of Vermont
Andrew Chaves, a 25-year-old resident of Washington, DC, has been sentenced to two years in prison for aggravated identity theft. The sentence was handed down by Chief United States District Judge Christina Reiss on January 28, 2025. Following his imprisonment, Chaves will serve a one-year term of supervised release.
Chaves had previously admitted guilt to the charges against him. Court documents reveal that between November 2023 and January 2024, he stole two federal government vehicles. One vehicle was taken from a U.S. Forest Service facility in Manchester, Vermont, and the other from a U.S. Army facility in Lodi, New Jersey. He drove these vehicles across several states while making unauthorized purchases using stolen credit cards.
As part of his plea agreement, Chaves has agreed to pay over $25,000 in restitution to the United States government and other victims involved. The conviction carries a mandatory sentence of two years' imprisonment that must be served consecutively with any other sentences he may face. Chaves also faces pending state charges in Vermont, Pennsylvania, and Washington, DC.
Acting United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher praised the joint investigative efforts conducted by multiple agencies including the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Office of Inspector General and the U.S. General Services Administration's Office of Inspector General among others.
The prosecution was led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Colin Owyang while Chaves received legal representation from Assistant Federal Public Defender Sara Puls and defense attorney Sarah Star.