BURLINGTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that Joshua Bedard, 38, of Waterbury, Vermont, has been charged by criminal complaint with possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking and distribution of cocaine and cocaine base. On May 12, 2026, Bedard appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle, who ordered that Bedard be detained pending trial.According to court records, Bedard was involved in the distribution of cocaine and cocaine base on at least two separate occasions in April of 2026 in the greater Brattleboro, Vermont area. During one of the distributions, Bedard was observed in possession of a revolver. Bedard was arrested for these distributions on May 12, 2026 in Brattleboro. At the time of his arrest, Bedard was driving a rental vehicle. Inside the rental vehicle, law enforcement located approximately 400 grams of cocaine and a loaded revolver.The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that the complaint contains allegations only and that Bedard is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. Bedard faces up to life imprisonment and a mandatory minimum of 5 years of imprisonment if convicted. The actual sentence, however, would be determined by the District Court with guidance from the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines and the statutory sentencing factors.First Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt commended the investigatory efforts of the Vermont Drug Task Force, the FBI Vermont, the FBI’s Western Massachusetts Gang Task Force, the Brattleboro Police Department, and the Hartford, Vermont Police Department.The prosecutor is Assistant United States Attorney Joshua L. Banker. Bedard is represented by the Office of the Federal Public Defender.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice