Neal Moser Sentenced to 51 Months, Less Time Served, for Being a Felon in Possession of a Handgun

Tristram Coffin, United States Attorney for the District of Vermont, stated that Neal Moser, 52, of North Street, Burlington, Vermont, was sentenced yesterday by U. S. District Court Judge William K. Sessions III, to 51 months in jail (minus 9 months for time already served). After credit for time served, Moser’s remaining jail sentence is 42 months. Moser was convicted of being a felon in possession of a handgun.

According to Court records, on November 17, 2011, Kuwan Reynolds was shot in the hand at Neal Moser’s apartment on North Street. The shooting stemmed from an altercation between two drug dealers. Prior to the shooting, Moser had been allowing a known drug dealer, Raymond King, to sell crack cocaine and heroin from Moser’s residence. King is a codefendant in this case and has not yet been sentenced. King and Moser kept an handgun at Moser’s apartment for protection during their drug distribution activities. On the day of the shooting, King arrived at Moser’s apartment to find Reynolds in Moser’s bedroom discussing a possible drug sale to Moser. After King told Reynolds that Moser’s apartment was "his spot [place from which to sell drugs]," the two began a physical altercation. During the altercation, Moser handed King the handgun. King fired at least two shots. The second shot was fired at Reynolds through a closed bedroom door. Reynolds, behind the closed door, was holding the door shut when he was injured.

Moser was indicted by a federal grand jury on April 5, 2012. He has been detained in prison since his arrest on May 15, 2012. He plead guilty on August 20, 2012.

This case was investigated by the Burlington Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. Tristram J. Coffin, the United States Attorney, commends those agencies for their work. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney, Nancy J. Creswell. Moser was represented by Karen Shingler, Esq.