Burlington Man Sentenced To Prison For Federal Gun & Assault Crime

Sunday, October 6, 2024, 9:15 A.M. ET. 3 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,

BURLINGTON, VT.- On Monday, September 30, 2024, Hasan Williams, 27, formerly of Burlington, Vermont, appeared in U.S. District Court for the District of Vermont and was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge William K. Sessions, III to 60 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release.

     According to U.S. Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest, Williams previously pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to an information charging him with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted or Prohibited Person; specifically, Williams was convicted of assault and Robbery in 2016.

According To Court Records

     According to evidence presented to the court, members of the Burlington Police Department responded to a late-night call just shortly after midnight between August 27 and August 28, 2023, in downtown Burlington, regarding a possible assault and possession of a firearm.

     Upon arrival, Police Officers located Williams walking away from the location of the call and on the grounds of the Chittenden County Superior Court complex. Police approached Williams, who denied having any involvement in the assault. A Police Officer then asked Williams if he had a gun on him, and replied he did not.

     Williams was wearing a shoulder bag that the Police wanted to remove without looking inside, noting that another recent call involved someone with a similar shoulder bag containing a gun. Williams refused to comply, turning his back on the Police Officers, and began reaching for the shoulder bag.

     Williams then instigated an altercation with one of the Police Officers, punching the Officer in the head before additional Police Officers arrived on the scene. With the help of a civilian, the Police Officers were able to restrain Williams.

Police Officers See Handgun

     Following the altercation and handcuffing Williams, the zipper on his shoulder bag opened, revealing a handgun in plain view inside the bag. Police subsequently obtained a court-authorized search warrant for the bag, which revealed a loaded gun.

     U.S. Attorney Kerest said, “I want to thank the officers and agents of the Burlington Police Department and the ATF for their vigilance and care in investigating and apprehending the defendant in this case, which is another example of members of law enforcement putting themselves at risk while protecting the community.”

     “Firearms in the hands of violent felons are a major driver of additional violent crime in our communities,” said ATF Boston Field Division Special Agent in Charge James M. Ferguson. “The sentence handed down on Monday delivers a clear message, violent offenders will be held accountable. ATF remains steadfast in its commitment to safeguarding our neighborhoods, with the reduction of gun violence as a top priority.”

     “Getting violent criminals off the streets is a key responsibility for law enforcement,” said Burlington Police Chief Jon Murad. “I’m grateful for our federal partners and the fair but effective sentences they win. The community is safer when such offenders are incarcerated not only because the offenders can’t hurt more people from prison but also because these types of offenders tend to be ‘violence drivers,’ who make others around them more prone to violence, as well. Thanks to the great work of our officers and the prosecutors in the U.S. Attorney’s Office, that’s what happened here.”