U.S. Attorney's Office
District of Vermont
January 28, 2025
Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on January 28, 2025, Andrew Chaves, 25, of Washington, DC, was sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Christina Reiss to a term of two years’ imprisonment to be followed by a one-year term of supervised release. Chaves previously pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft.
According to court records, Chaves stole two federal government vehicles from November 2023 to January 2024. He took one vehicle from a U.S. Forest Service facility in Manchester, Vermont and another from a U.S. Army facility in Lodi, New Jersey. Chaves drove both vehicles through multiple states, including Vermont, while making unauthorized purchases on credit cards he had stolen. As part of his plea, Chaves has agreed to pay over $25,000 in restitution to the United States government and his other victims. The statute of conviction prescribes a mandatory sentence of two years’ imprisonment consecutive to all other sentences. Chaves has pending state charges in Vermont, Pennsylvania and Washington, DC.
Acting United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher commended the collaborative investigatory efforts of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General, the U.S. General Services Administration, Office of Inspector General, the United States Forest Service, the Vermont State Police, the U.S. Marshals Service and the U.S. Federal Protective Service.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Colin Owyang. Chaves was represented by Assistant Federal Public Defender Sara Puls and defense attorney Sarah Star, Esq.
Source: U.S. Attorney's Office press release
