Michael P. Drescher Acting United States Attorney for the District of Vermont | U.S. Attorney for the District of Vermont
Mohamed Mubarak, 28, of Burlington, Vermont, was convicted on April 17 of three firearm offenses and two identity theft offenses after a four-day jury trial in U.S. District Court in Burlington. Chief U.S. District Judge Christina Reiss ordered that Mubarak remain detained pending sentencing, which has not yet been scheduled.
The case highlights the efforts by federal authorities to address gun-related crimes and identity theft within the community. The U.S. Attorney for the District of Vermont supports community safety and civil rights through efforts to reduce crime and protect victims, according to the official website.
Court records showed that Mubarak obtained an associate’s driver’s license by providing crack cocaine to the associate and then used that license without their knowledge to purchase two firearms from a Vermont store—a black Canik 9mm pistol and a pink SCCY 9mm pistol—despite being prohibited from possessing firearms due to prior felony convictions. Evidence connected to these purchases was found during an investigation into a firearm discharge at an apartment building in South Burlington in March 2024. Law enforcement recovered messages and photographs from a cell phone as well as social media communications showing Mubarak's possession of both the associate’s license and the illicitly purchased firearms.
Mubarak faces a mandatory minimum sentence of two years for aggravated identity theft, with up to fifteen years possible for unlawful possession of firearms as a felon; his final sentence will be determined using Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
First Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt said: "I commend the collaborative investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the South Burlington Police Department, and the Essex Police Department," also thanking several other local agencies for their assistance.
The case is part of Operation Take Back America—a nationwide initiative led by the Department of Justice aimed at addressing illegal immigration issues, eliminating criminal organizations such as cartels or transnational groups (TCOs), and protecting communities from violent crime perpetrators.
The U.S. Attorney for the District of Vermont enforces federal criminal laws and handles civil litigation on behalf of the United States according to its official website. The office serves all areas within Vermont with locations in both Burlington and Rutland; it works closely with state, local, federal law enforcement agencies as well as community partners to enhance public safety.
