Nikolas Kerest U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the District of Vermont
Tyler Hayes, a 42-year-old resident of Bennington, Vermont, has been convicted on charges related to the possession of a homemade bomb. The conviction came after a jury trial in the U.S. District Court in Rutland. Judge Joseph Laplante ordered that Hayes remain in custody pending sentencing, which is yet to be scheduled. Hayes has been detained since his arrest on January 19, 2024.
The case began when a bomb was found at Hayes's former residence in Bennington after he left the property in February 2023. The property manager informed law enforcement officials, who subsequently defused the device. Witnesses testified that Hayes had been involved in discussions and activities related to bomb-making for several months and had attempted to exchange a bomb for fentanyl. Additional testimony revealed that Hayes admitted to being "on the run" following the discovery of the bomb at his home.
An explosives expert from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives explained that although rudimentary and simplistic—comprising a pipe bomb combined with flammable liquids stored in plastic water bottles—the device was capable of causing significant damage if detonated.
Hayes was found guilty of possessing an unregistered destructive device under the National Firearms Act (NFA) and possessing such a device while being an unlawful user of controlled substances under the Gun Control Act (GCA). He faces up to 10 years imprisonment for violating the NFA and up to 15 years for violating the GCA. The final sentence will be determined by considering Federal Sentencing Guidelines and statutory factors.
Acting United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher commented on the verdict: “Yesterday’s guilty verdict in Rutland reflects not only the investigative skill of agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives and Homeland Security Investigations but also the work of an extraordinary team of prosecutors and support staff from this office.” Drescher acknowledged contributions from Vermont State Police's Explosive Ordinance Disposal Unit and Bennington Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorneys Corinne Smith and Nicole Cate prosecuted the case. James Valente, Esq., and Chandler Matson, Esq., represented Hayes.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), aiming to reduce violent crime through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities. Launched on May 26, 2021, PSN emphasizes trust-building within communities, supporting violence prevention organizations, strategic enforcement priorities, and outcome measurement. More information about PSN can be found at Justice.gov/PSN.