Rochester Felon Arrested On Gun And Drug Charges

CONTACT: Barbara Burns   
PHONE:       (716) 843-5817 
FAX #:          (716) 551-3051  

ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Chad Owens, 30, of Rochester, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with possession with intent to distribute cocaine, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. The charges carry a maximum penalty of life in prison and a $1,000,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Cassie Kocher, who is handling the case, stated that on May 13, 2022, a search warrant was executed at Owens’s Barberry Terrace residence in Rochester. During the search, investigators recovered $23,280 in cash, 75 individually wrapped bags of cocaine, another 52 grams of cocaine, and drug paraphernalia. A loaded .45 caliber handgun and a .40 caliber handgun with a defaced serial number, both of which had been reported stolen, and ammunition were also recovered. Owens was previously convicted on in Monroe County Court of Attempted Criminal Possession of a Firearm in the Second Degree and is legally prohibited from possessing firearms.

The defendant made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark W. Pedersen and is being held without bail.

The criminal complaint is the result of an investigation by the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Interim Chief David Smith and Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Scarpino.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.  

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