PLATTSBURGH, NEW YORK - Brad Rushford, age 33, of Ellenburg Depot, New York, pled guilty today to being a member of a drug distribution conspiracy that involved more than 100 kilograms of marijuana, announced United States Attorney Richard S. Hartunian.
As part of his guilty plea, Rushford admitted to coordinating the transportation and delivery of marijuana loads smuggled into the United States from Canada and bound for locations throughout the eastern United States. Rushford was a Corrections Officer with the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision. His co-defendant and mother, Freda Rushford, pled guilty on July 6 to making a false statement to federal officers, and to being part of the same marijuana distribution conspiracy.
As a result of his conviction, Rushford faces at least 5 years and up 40 years in prison, a fine of up to $5,000,000, and a term of supervised release of at least 4 years and up to life. Sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 1, 2016 before U.S. District Judge David N. Hurd in Utica. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by the judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); the Federal Bureau of Investigation; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service; the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, Office of Special Investigations; the New York State Police; and the St. Regis Mohawk Tribal Police. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cyrus P.W. Rieck.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
