Hartford Man Sentenced To Prison For Vermont Gun Conviction: Feds

HARTFORD, CT/BURLINGTON, VT — A Hartford resident was sentenced to prison by federal authorities in Vermont for an illegal gun possession conviction.

The United States Attorney’s Office in Vermont said Wednesday that Sharad Collier, 27, of Hartford, was sentenced Monday by a federal judge in Vermont to 18 months in prison followed by a three-year term of supervised release.

Collier previously pleaded guilty to being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm, authorities said.

According to court records, on Feb. 28, 2023, Collier fled from a residence in Morristown, Vt., where law enforcement arrested other individuals.

Police tracked Collier to a nearby shed-like structure which the defendant refused to exit for approximately two hours, federal officials said.

Eventually, Collier surrendered to the police, who then obtained a warrant to search the residence from which Collier fled.

Officials said they found a Glock model semi-automatic pistol in the bedroom previously occupied by Collier and from which Collier fled hours before he surrendered.

Collier later admitted to investigators he was an unlawful user of controlled substances in February 2023, authorities said.

He was therefore prohibited from possessing a firearm, officials said.

Federal authorities said the investigation into Collier discovered he was involved in trafficking cocaine and fentanyl in Vermont in February 2023.

For the full U.S. Attorney's Office announcement, click on this link.