A Derby Line man, who was facing felony charges in two states, including Vermont for stealing military-grade ballistic helmets from his employer, has now been charged in federal court with lying during the purchase of two firearms at a Northeast Kingdom gun shop.

Angel Elias Estremera, 26, also possessed five other firearms unlawfully that were unknown to law enforcement when they conducted a court-ordered search at his Derby Line residence late last month, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said in federal court papers.

The five extra guns were found in a gun safe at his home, the ATF said.

Estremera also had obtained a 9-mm semiautomatic pistol on July 29 and a Glock .45-caliber semiautomatic pistol on Aug. 11 from Wright’s Sport Shop in Newport, federal court records maintain.

The 9-mm gun was found in a dresser at the residence, but Estremera was unable to say where the .45-caliber handgun was located, except he thought he might have left it at an unidentified friend’s home right when he bought it, the ATF said.

During the two purchases, Estremera provided multiple false statements including that he was not facing any felony charges, the ATF said in a sworn affidavit. He re-affirmed that claim when he picked up both weapons, the ATF said.

In reality, Estremera was out on conditions from Vermont Superior Court in Newport on Nov. 19, 2024 in a felony case of grand larceny for reportedly stealing military-grade ballistic helmets while employed by Galvion in Newport, the ATF said.

The products were part of a military contract with the Israeli Defense Force and Estremera reportedly sold the helmets to a pawn shop in Connecticut, an ATF task force officer wrote.

Estremera also was facing a charge in Hartford, Conn. on Feb. 26 for criminal possession of a pistol/revolver, a 10-year felony, court papers note.  A Connecticut judge released Estremera on conditions, including he not possess firearms or ammunition, court records said.

Based on a federal arrest warrant, Orleans County Deputy Sheriff Antonio Battista, working with the ATF, pulled over Estremera while he was driving on Lake Road in Newport City on Oct. 28, court records show.

Battista placed Estremera’s cellphone on the roof of the car as ATF agents questioned him.  The ATF subsequently requested from a federal judge a search warrant for the cellphone, which was logged as evidence in the case.

The ATF said Estremera during the gun purchases provided a home address on Caswell Avenue in Derby Line, but surveillance in October failed to show he was not living there.  

Further investigation revealed he had purchased a 2015 white Subaru Forester on Oct. 14 and while claiming Caswell Avenue as his home address, Estremera did list 53 Mountain View Drive in Derby Line as his residence on one document, records show.  It is the home of a girlfriend or spouse, the ATF said.

For both gun purchases, Estremera was initially cleared by the FBI within a week on a background check, records show.

Federal court records indicate Wright’s was notified on Oct. 8 that the two purchases, upon further review, should have been denied under the National Instant Criminal Background Check System.

The ATF said it was alerted by Wright’s on Oct. 16 about the violations and federal agents began trying to recover the firearms from Estremera.

Federal Magistrate Judge Kevin Doyle agreed to release Estremera on strict conditions, including his travel is restricted to Vermont and Connecticut and he was ordered to surrender his passport.  Doyle also told Estremera that he is not to commit any new federal, state or local crimes and will be under federal pre-trial supervision.  He is to refrain from possessing guns and drugs, including marijuana.

Judge Doyle also set Dec. 18th for a probable cause hearing, or it could turn into a formal arraignment if a federal grand jury indicts Estremera on any charges.

Estremera’s criminal cases in state court in Orleans County were recently resolved, State’s Attorney Farzana Leyva said Friday. 

Estremera was placed on probation for four years for the grand larceny charge and for two years on an unlawful trespass conviction, Leyva said.  She said Estremera also has to make $1,056 in restitution.