by Mike Donoghue, Vermont News First

Suspect says he brokered crack cocaine for guns destined for out-of-state

A version of this news story has appeared in the Caledonian-Record

An Orleans County man, who authorities said listed his occupation as “drug dealer,” is facing a federal charge of illegal possession of a loaded firearm by a convicted felon.

The felony gun charge against Gordon “Donnie” Richards, 58, of Derby, stems from a joint investigation by the Orleans County Sheriff’s Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in recent months.

Richards claimed he was selling between 1 and 2 ounces of crack cocaine daily for the past few years, according to ATF Task Force member James Loomis in a court affidavit.

Loomis said Richards responded “drug dealer” when asked his occupation during his interview at the sheriff’s office.

“Richards claimed to be one of the biggest drug dealers in the area,” Loomis said when he questioned the defendant.

The defendant also reported he routinely brokered crack deals for guns with large-scale drug dealers, who took the firearms out of state, the ATF affidavit said.

Loomis said Richards criminal history includes at least one felony conviction in Orleans County for attempted burglary in 1989. He was sentenced to 1-to-3 years in prison.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Lasher, in a motion seeking the detention of Richards, noted the defendant also is prohibited from possessing any firearms because he is a user of controlled substances.

He said he was a risk to flee and a danger to himself and the community.

Defense lawyer Brooks McArthur said he tried to explain the government’s arguments to his client. McArthur said he read the detention motion, the pretrial services report, and the affidavits Loomis had filed to his client.

McArthur said his client wants to be released because the Department for Children and Families currently has custody of his child.

Federal Magistrate Kevin Doyle said Richards needs to stay behind bars for now. Doyle was concerned about his criminal record, which includes convictions for assault, including at least one on police.

Doyle said evidence showed Richards was an active drug user, including cocaine in recent days.

Orleans County Deputy Sheriff Dan Locke was on routine patrol in Coventry when he saw Richards fail multiple times to keep his Dodge Ram in the proper travel lane on U.S. 5 on March 25, court records show. He crossed over the center line at least three times.

Locke stopped the truck and found Richards behind the wheel, Loomis said in his sworn statement.

Locke was familiar with Richards and spotted a handgun, which was loaded, in the console area between the seats and also drug paraphernalia, Loomis said.

Locke was aware of at least one felony conviction that would have disqualified Richards from possessing the firearms.

Richards maintained he knew nothing about the loaded .380-caliber semi-automatic pistol but said it belonged to his brother-in-law, Loomis said.

Locke also found Richards was carrying crack cocaine in his front pocket and that he had admitted smoking the drug earlier in the day, records show. Locke seized a scale and other drug paraphernalia.

The sheriff’s department detained Richards on suspicion of driving while under the influence and for drug and gun offenses, the ATF said.

Loomis, who is a U.S. Border Patrol Agent, but was recently assigned to the ATF Task Force in Vermont to help with gun cases in the Northeast Kingdom region, was summoned by Locke to assist in the criminal investigation.

Richards admitted he had a .22-magnum handgun that belonged earlier to a deceased family member, the ATF said. Richards said he was willing to go to jail for that gun.

Richards said he used both his cell phones and Facebook messenger to facilitate the gun and drug deals, records show.

During the interview, Richards shows his cellphone, and messages about “Zipps” were mentioned, Loomis wrote. When asked what that referenced, Richards said it was slang for one ounce of crack cocaine. Loomis said he later saw a message about the sale of a firearm and a mention of a “.380.”

Locke was involved in an earlier investigation into a report of a stolen all-terrain vehicle in the town of Orleans on Feb. 20. During the investigation, a juvenile asked Locke to run a stolen firearms check on two guns he possessed and reportedly bought from Richards, Loomis said.

Records show that one gun was a Benelli Super Black Eagle 12-gauge shotgun, and the other was a U.S. Military Surplus .30-caliber bolt-action rifle. The shotgun had been reported stolen to the Orange, Conn. Police Department in December 2021, the ATF said.

The juvenile reported his mother had bought the shotgun from Richards for $500 as a Christmas present, Locke said. The juvenile said he bought the .30-caliber rifle himself from Richards for $250 at his home on Lower Quarry Road in Derby in November 2023, the deputy noted.

Locke took possession of both firearms and placed them in the evidence vault at the sheriff’s office. The juvenile said during a later interview that Richards offered to sell an AR-15 rifle to the juvenile for $200 in February, court records show.