[B]URLINGTON — A federal grand jury has returned an indictment on firearm possession charges against Krystal Whitcomb, whose boyfriend was shot to death in Concord in October.
Whitcomb and her father, Shawn Whitcomb, have been in federal custody on drug charges since shortly after Michael Pimental’s body was found last month.
Pimental, and both Whitcombs were the subjects of a probe by state police into heroin dealing. That investigation started in July.
Krystal Whitcomb pleaded not guilty Friday to the additional firearms charges, which were returned by the grand jury Thursday afternoon. She was charged with possessing three guns from July to October to further the drug trafficking she is alleged to have done. She has been charged with conspiracy to distribute heroin and fentanyl.
She was returned to prison after the hearing. Her father was not in attendance.
Whitcomb is accused of having a Hi-Point .380 caliber handgun, a Hi-Point .40 caliber handgun and a Ruger .38 Special revolver, according to court records.
U.S. Attorney Christina Nolan attended the hearing and said that the severity of the charges speaks for itself.
“The top priority of my office is … rooting out violence, and that includes gun crimes,” Nolan said. “When you involve guns in addiction and the addiction business, it can lead to dangerous consequences.”
Michael Straub, Whitcomb’s defense attorney, declined comment following the hearing.
Friday’s superseding indictment also includes counts of heroin and fentanyl distribution against both Shawn and Krystal Whitcomb and a third charge against Whitcomb and an unidentified individual for conspiracy to unlawfully possess ammunition.
The ammunition charge stems from Krystal Whitcomb’s alleged purchase of ammunition at a Walmart in Littleton, New Hampshire and her transportation of that ammunition into Vermont.
Pimental’s body was found Oct. 14 off a rural dirt road in Concord, about 15 miles from the home he shared with Whitcomb.
Court records show that both Shawn and Krystal Whitcomb were questioned by police in the Pimental’s death, but police and court records have not revealed what the two said in those interviews.
No arrests have been made in connection with Pimental’s homocide, and Vermont State Police Capt. Dan Trudeau, head of the major crimes unit, said Friday that police were still waiting for the search results from digital devices, like cell phones and computers.
Pimental had been shot in the head and torso, according to a death certificate filed with the Vermont Department of Health.
