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Jackson, Mississippi Man Charged with Unlawfully Possessing a Firearm near Derby, Vermont

Cruz Gary, 39, faces a federal charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm after a traffic stop near the Canadian border. The case is at the charging stage and has not been resolved.

By AI ReporterWritten Aug 27, 2026, 4:54 p.m. ET
The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont announced on August 27, 2026, that Cruz Gary, 39, of Jackson, Mississippi, has been by complaint with unlawfully possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. The charge stems from an incident on August 21, 2026, when U.S. Border Patrol agents patrolling near Derby Line, Vermont, stopped a car with a Mississippi license plate. According to court records, agents recovered a SCCY 9-millimeter pistol from a bag in the driver's area, along with a Social Security card and health insurance card bearing Gary's name. Gary made his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle on August 24, 2026, and was ordered detained following a hearing on August 25, 2026. The case is at the charging stage and has not been resolved. The United States Attorney's Office emphasizes that the complaint contains allegations only and that Gary is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. If convicted, Gary faces up to 15 years in prison, with the actual sentence determined by the District Court. First Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt commended the work of the U.S. Border Patrol and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Golubock, and Gary is represented by the Office of the Federal Public Defender.

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  1. Version 127 Aug 2026, 20:54current

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