United States of America v. Christopher Rantanen

Burlington, Vermont, criminal defense lawyer Lisa Shelkrot represented the Defendant charged with felony possession and transportation of firearms and ammunition.

Imprisonment for a term of 35 months with credit for time served, concurrent to any state sentences, followed by 3 years S/R, fines waived, $100 S/A imposed.

In September 2024, Christopher Rantanen, 40, of Brandon, Vermont, was involved in a single car accident on U.S. Route 7 in Pittsford, Vermont. Rantanen denied any drug or alcohol use to responding law enforcement. While an officer wrote Rantanen tickets for numerous traffic infractions related to the crash, fire department officials on the scene alerted law enforcement that Rantanen was slumped over on a nearby bench. Thereafter, officers again asked Rantanen about his drug use, and Rantanen again denied any drug use that day. While waiting for a tow truck to arrive, law enforcement observed drug paraphernalia in plain view inside and around Rantanen’s car. Law enforcement obtained a search warrant for Rantanen’s car, and located inside the vehicle two handguns (including a privately manufactured firearm), ammunition, fentanyl, cocaine, and assorted drug paraphernalia. A few weeks later, in November 2024, law enforcement encountered Rantanen and another person in a car in Rutland, Vermont when responding to a drug-related complaint. Once Rantanen and the other person were out of the car, law enforcement observed a Glock pistol in the area near where Rantanen had been seated. A search of this car revealed approximately 13 grams of fentanyl and approximately 19 grams of crack cocaine in the area around where Rantanen was seated.

First Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt commended the collaborative investigatory efforts of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Pittsford Police Department.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Arra. Rantanen was represented by Lisa Shelkrot, Esq.