Amsterdam Felon Pleads Guilty to Firearms Offenses

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Nelson Rodriguez, age 39, of Amsterdam, New York, pled guilty today to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and possession of a firearm by a felon.  

The announcement was made by United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith; Amsterdam Police Chief Gregory J. Culick; and John B. Devito, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

Rodriguez, who was convicted of attempted murder in 2009, admitted to selling cocaine base (crack) in Amsterdam and to possessing a .25 caliber handgun to protect his drugs and drug proceeds.  The handgun was discovered under Rodriguez’s mattress during the execution of a search warrant on his Amsterdam apartment in August 2017.  Along with the handgun, law enforcement seized 6 grams of crack, 40 individually-wrapped packages of crack, and $2,000 in cash. 

Rodriguez faces at least 5 years and up to life in prison, and a term of post-release supervision of up to 5 years.  A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.

This case was investigated by the Amsterdam Police Department and ATF, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cyrus P.W. Rieck.