Rochester, N.Y.-- U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Jesus Velez, 21, of Rochester, New York, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Charles J. Siragusa, to felony charges of Possession With Intent to Distribute Cocaine and Possession of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Drug Trafficking Crime. The drug charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, a fine of $1,000,000 or both. The firearm charge carries a maximum penalty of line prison, a fine of $250,000 or both.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer M. Noto, who handled the case, stated that the defendant was observed by members of the Rochester Police Department carrying a loaded firearm while possessing cocaine that he intended to sell on July 11, 2014, in the City of Rochester.
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 Special Agent in Charge Delano A. Reid, and officers of the Rochester Police Department under the direction of Chief Michael Ciminelli.
Sentencing is scheduled for June 5, 2015, at 9:15 A.M. EST, in Rochester, N.Y., in front of Judge Siragusa.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
