Jury Convicts Syracuse Man of Drug and Gun Offenses

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – United States Attorney Richard S. Hartunian announces that SHAEEM GRADY(A/K/A SHAHEEM GRADY) was found guilty of three felony offenses following a three day jury trial in federal court in Syracuse: Possession with the Intent to Distribute Cocaine Base, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C); Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A); and Felon in Possession of a Firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2). GRADY is facing a statutory mandatory minimum sentence of five years for the conviction of Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime. He is also facing a maximum term of incarceration of twenty years for the Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine Base count, and a maximum term of incarceration of ten years for the Felon in Possession of a Firearm count. Grady will be sentenced in April 2015, before the Honorable Judge Frederick J. Scullin, Jr., in Syracuse, New York.

GRADY, 29, of Syracuse, was arrested on March 22, 2013, when police officers observed a baggie of crack cocaine in his lap as he sat in the passenger seat of a car that was illegally parked. Police attempted to place GRADY under arrest when he violently resisted while attempting to gain access to the center console of the vehicle. A Glock, model 19, 9 mm handgun with 7 rounds in the magazine was located in the center console. GRADY continued resisting and reaching for the console while simultaneously yelling to the driver of the vehicle to “pull off” while officers were located halfway inside the passenger doorway. Officers were able to take GRADY into custody and during a search incident to his arrest, recovered an additional baggie with cocaine residue, a steak knife from his front pants pocket, and $90.00. GRADY was prohibited from possessing a firearm due to a 2002 conviction for Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree.

This prosecution resulted from an investigation conducted by the Syracuse Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Geoffrey Brown. Further questions may be directed to Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney John Duncan at (315) 448-0672.