On December 3, 2020, a Federal Grand Jury indicted Matthew Morgan, 51 years old man, from Burlington, Vermont, on one count of bank larceny over $1,000. United States Attorney for the District of Vermont alleges that Mr. Morgan stole an ATM from the campus of the University of Vermont in September of 2020. There was $23,000 inside the machine when he allegedly stole it. According to the indictment, Mr. Morgan then used a portion of that cash to purchase a 2011 Jeep Patriot. The U.S. District Attorney for Vermont has asked that the Jeep be forfeited. Assistant United States Attorney Gregory Waples is the attorney prosecuting the case.
For information on when a federal crime may result in forfeiture of money or assets, contact our criminal defense lawyers in Burlington, Vermont, by using the contact form to the right of this article or calling us.
If the government suspects that an asset was used to commit a crime or was obtained through the crime or the proceeds, the government can seek to forfeit that asset. When an asset is forfeited, it belongs to the government. An asset is anything that has economic value to a person, government, or company and is expected to retain or grow that value over time. Many types of property may be forfeited, including but not limited to: drugs, houses, cars, cash, jewelry, and boats. Asset forfeiture cannot take place before someone is convicted. However, assets may be frozen through the trial process until a verdict is rendered.
On December 21, 2020, Matthew Morgan pleaded not guilty to one charge of bank larceny in the United States District Court in Burlington, Vermont. Mr. Morgan is currently serving a sentence for an unconnected crime. Judge John M. Conroy stated that Mr. Morgan would continue to be detained until his trial. No trial date has been set at the time of this article.
According to U.S. Criminal Code 2113 of Bank Robbery and Incidental Crimes, a person can be charged with bank larceny if they take or carry off with the intent to steal anything with a value greater than $1000 belonging to a bank, credit union, or savings and loan that the FDA ensures. This crime is prosecutable by imprisonment or a fine, or both.
If he should be convicted of this crime, Mr. Morgan could be sentenced to ten years in prison and be fined up to $250,000.
Mr. Morgan is presumed innocent unless he should be found guilty, as is his right as a citizen under the United States Bill of Rights. The right to be assumed innocent until proven guilty is one of the tenets of the United States justice system. This right is upheld through the 5th, 6th, and 14th amendments.
Stephen Barth, an Assistant Federal Defender with the United States Federal Court, is representing Mr. Morgan.
