Tenesee Man Sentenced On Gun Charge

CONTACT:      Barbara Burns
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BUFFALO, N.Y. – Acting U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that David E. Rhoades, 36, of Goodlettsville, Tennessee, who was convicted of possession of a firearm as an unlawful user of a controlled substance, was sentenced to 15 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo. 
 
Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan A. Tokash, who handled the case, stated that on August 28, 2016, the defendant attempted to enter Canada at the Peace Bridge Port of Entry. Rhoades was refused entry for possessing a loaded gun. The defendant was escorted by the Canada Border Services Agency back into the United States to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The gun was a 9mm pistol for which Rhoades did not have a permit to carry. Drug paraphernalia, including a pill bottle with cocaine residue, a pipe, rolling papers with marijuana residue, and a scale, was also found in the car and seized by officers. As he was arrested, the defendant admitted being a cocaine user. 
 
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Kevin Kelly; Customs and Border Protection, under the direction of Rose Brophy; Director of Field Operations; and the Canada Border Services Agency.