Two-Time Felon Sentenced to Federal Prison for Drug Trafficking and Firearms Charges

          ROCHESTER, N.Y.-- U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Warren Love, 36, of Rochester, N.Y., who was convicted by a jury of possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute, maintaining a drug involved premises, possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes, and possession of firearms and ammunition while being a convicted felon, was sentenced to 13 years in prison and six years supervised release by U.S. District Court Judge David G. Larimer.

           Assistant U.S. Attorneys Craig Gestring and Charles E. Moynihan, who handled the case, stated that Love was arrested following the execution of two search warrants by members of the Greater Rochester Area Narcotics Enforcement Team at 399 Lake Avenue on April 6, 2010. Upon entering the location, officers encountered and arrested the defendant at the threshold of the rear first floor apartment.

           In searching the rear first floor apartment, law enforcement officers located and seized over 19 grams of crack cocaine which was in the process of being packaged for street level sale. Officers also located paraphernalia associated with drug trafficking, including digital scales and glassine ziplock bags. In addition to these items, law enforcement officers located and seized two bullet proof vests and two handguns, one of which was loaded with ten rounds of ammunition.

          In searching the rear second floor apartment, officers also located a sophisticated surveillance system which showed the area outside of 399 Lake Avenue through the use of strategically mounted surveillance cameras. Officers located, in the same apartment, paraphernalia related to drug trafficking, as well as a loaded 40 caliber rifle which was underneath a sofa. Finally, officers found the defendant's four-year old son playing in the living room in which they found the loaded rifle.

         The sentencing is the result of an investigation on the part of the Greater Rochester Area Narcotics Enforcement Team composed of law enforcement personnel from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives under the direction of Resident Agent in Charge Scott Heagney, the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief James M. Sheppard and Irondequoit Police Department, under the direction of Richard Boyan.