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Press Release

Rochester Man Sentenced Drug Trafficking And Gun Possession Charges

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of New York

CONTACT:      Barbara Burns
PHONE:         (716) 843-5817
FAX:            (716) 551-3051
 
ROCHESTER, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Robert Swinton, 42, of Rochester, NY, who was convicted after a jury trial in July 2017 of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, maintaining a drug involved premises, possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes, and possession of firearms and ammunition as a previously convicted felon, was sentenced to 22 years and six months in prison, and ordered to pay a fine of $400 by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Katelyn Hartford and Charles E. Moynihan, who handled the prosecution of the case, stated that on October 16, 2012, members of the Greater Rochester Area Narcotics Enforcement Team and Violent Crime Task Force, pursuant to a search warrant, searched Swinton’s residence located at 562 Maple Street in Rochester. As officers entered the location, they saw a co-defendant, David Jones, run from the kitchen into the living room.  Officers arrested defendant Swinton while he was standing in a doorway to a bedroom adjacent to the living room.  A woman, Danielle Bowen, was also arrested in the living room.      

Officers searched the location and found, a .223 caliber rifle, which was loaded with 30 rounds of .223 and .556 caliber of ammunition.  Officers also found a .357 caliber revolver, which was loaded with six rounds of .357 caliber ammunition. The firearms were found under the bedsheets and pillow on the bed in the defendant’s bedroom.    

In the same bedroom, officers found drug packaging material and mail and identifications paperwork belonging to Swinton.  At various other locations in the premises, officers discovered cocaine, drug paraphernalia, digital scales, Pyrex glass beakers, and other items used to process cocaine hydrochloride into crack cocaine.  
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Rochester Police Department under the direction of Chief Michael Ciminelli and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Ashan Benedict, New York Field Division.

Updated December 21, 2017