A Franklin County firearms dealer is facing rare state gun charges

A Franklin County firearms dealer is facing rare state gun charges after an inspection by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives found multiple possible violations of Vermont gun sale laws, police said. State police said this week that Matthew Williams, operator of Deep Woods Mafia firearms in Sheldon, has been ordered to appear in Vermont Superior Court in St. Albans on Jan. 14 to enter a plea. State Trooper Adam Martin maintained that during a federal inspection at the retailer at 833 Machia Road, Williams was found in violation of state background and transfer regulations. Most gun crimes uncovered by local and state police in Vermont are federal violations and are sent on to the ATF to seek prosecution in U.S. District Court. The Williams case is a rare flip-flop. Eight possible gun violations were uncovered by federal investigators, who alerted State Police Lt. Michael Filipek, the station commander for Franklin County, for consideration of criminal prosecution in Vermont courts, police said.