Michael P. Drescher Acting United States Attorney for the District of Vermont | U.S. Attorney for the District of Vermont
Richard J. Vardenski, 57, of Charlestown, Massachusetts was sentenced on March 27 to 66 months in prison and three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to robbing a convenience store in the Old North End of Burlington, Vermont.
The sentencing follows an incident on August 25, 2024, when Vardenski entered the store, pointed what appeared to be a pistol at the clerk, demanded money, and took about $500 in cash along with a pack of cigarettes before fleeing in a Volvo. Authorities later determined that the weapon used was a BB-gun. At the time of this offense, Vardenski was already on federal supervised release and had prior convictions for bank robbery and assault with intent to do bodily harm.
First Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt said he appreciated the joint investigative work by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Burlington Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua L. Banker prosecuted the case while Evan Barquist represented Vardenski.
This prosecution is part of Operation Take Back America—a nationwide initiative using Department of Justice resources aimed at combating illegal immigration as well as cartels and transnational criminal organizations.
