Rochester Man Sentenced On Drug And Gun Charges

CONTACT:      Barbara Burns
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ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Marquis McMillian, 25, of Rochester, NY, who was convicted of drug distribution, firearms possession and use of violence and threats of violence, was sentenced to 25 years in prison and 10 years supervised release by U.S. District Judge Charles J. Siragusa.  

Assistant U.S. Attorney Everado A. Rodriguez, who handled the case, stated that McMillian participated in a large and long term drug distribution conspiracy. The defendant admitted distributing over 280 grams of crack cocaine in the Rochester area.  McMillian also admitted that he possessed firearms during his drug distribution activities and that he used violence and the threat of violence during his drug dealing.

In a related prosecution, McMillian was previously convicted in state court following a jury trial of assault and attempted murder in connection with the shooting of two men in June of 2012. 

The defendant was indicted along with nine other individuals in February 2013 for their involvement in the violent drug distribution conspiracy which was based in Rochester and headed by co-defendant Tyshawn Simmons.  To date, nine defendants have been convicted including Simmons, who was convicted of committing murder in furtherance of the drug distribution conspiracy. Simmons is scheduled to be sentenced on April 4, 2017. 

Today’s sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief Michael Ciminelli, and the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge James J. Hunt, New York Field Division.