Rutland man sentenced to 80 months in prison for robbery spree

Brennan Bigelow, age 33, of Rutland, Vermont, has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Christina Reiss to a term of 80 months’ imprisonment to be followed by a 3-year term of supervised release, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont announced on Feb. 29, 2024.

Bigelow previously pleaded guilty to two robberies and, at the same change of plea hearing, admitted participation in two additional robberies and one attempted robbery, all occurring from August to December 2022 at five Rutland businesses: a convenience store on Woodstock Avenue, a gas station on South Main Street, a restaurant and a gas station on U.S. Route 4 East, and a pharmacy on Woodstock Avenue.

In each robbery, Bigelow threatened a store employee with violence, brandished a pellet gun that resembled a firearm, brandished a knife, simulated a concealed handgun or threatened to shoot the cashier.

According to court records, Bigelow told one of his victims that he would shoot the victim in the face. Another victim remains fearful of being alone, experiencing sadness and anger, and wanting Bigelow to spend “life in jail.”

Another of Bigelow’s victims reported replaying the robbery, especially when trying to fall asleep. Another explained the incident with Bigelow “was a short ordeal, but it was truly terrifying.”

While detained in connection with this federal case, Bigelow was convicted of assaulting another prison inmate and is awaiting sentencing in that case in New York state court. 

U.S. Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the Rutland Police Dept. for its investigation of this matter. 

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jon Ophardt and Colin Owyang. Defendant Brennan Bigelow was represented by Peter Langrock, Esq. 

“This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone,” stated the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont in the news release.

On May 26, 2021, the Dept. launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. 

For more info about Project Safe Neighborhoods, visit: Justice.gov/PSN.