Rochester Man Pleads Guilty To Drug & Firearm Possession

CONTACT:      BARBARA BURNS               
PHONE:        (716) 843-5817
FAX:           (716) 551-3051

ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Leroy J. Smith, 37, of Rochester, NY, pleaded guilty plea to possession of a firearm as a convicted felon, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime before U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci. The charges carry a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and a maximum of life.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Marangola, who is handling the case, stated that between January and June 2012, the defendant possessed a 20 gauge shotgun while he was also in possession of quantities of marijuana for distribution. Smith came to the attention of law enforcement in 2013 during a law enforcement initiative in the vicinity of Linnert Street in Rochester. At that time, the defendant was in possession of a Colt .38 caliber double action revolver.

The plea was the culmination of an investigation on the part of Special Agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of James S. Higgins, Special Agent in Charge, New York Field Office.                             

Sentencing is scheduled for March 19, 2015 at 3:00 p.m. before Judge Geraci.