ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Jewell D. Wiggins, 46, of Rochester, N.Y., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge David G. Larimer to possession of cocaine with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison, a fine of $2,000,000, or both.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles E. Moynihan, who is handling the case, stated that the defendant was arrested after members of the Rochester Police Department, while conducting a routine traffic stop of his car, found the defendant in possession of a loaded.45 caliber Colt Combat Commander semiautomatic handgun. During the investigation, Wiggins made several admissions to possessing the firearm.
Once under arrest for possessing the firearm, the defendant was transported to the Rochester Police Department Public Safety Building. During this transport, the Rochester Police Department officer observed Wiggins moving around in the backseat of the police vehicle. As this was happening, the defendant stated, “I just want you to know, I’m only moving around back here because I have a bad leg, not because I’m doing anything funny." The officer searched the rear of his patrol vehicle after he had turned the defendant over the Monroe County Jail and found that the defendant had discarded thirty small bags of cocaine and five small bags of marijuana. Officers also found that the defendant possessed over $300.00 in United States currency.
The plea is the culmination of an investigation on the part of Special Agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of Resident Agent-in-Charge, Scott Heagney, members of the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Police Chief James Sheppard.
Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 15, 2014, at 2:00 p.m. before Judge Larimer.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
