ROCHESTER,
N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross joined with law enforcement partners
at the federal, state, and local levels today to announce the return of
an indictment of the leader and members of a violent drug trafficking
organization and to discuss ongoing efforts aimed at reducing violence,
in particular gun violence, in the City of Rochester.
“My message to those who think that they can terrorize our community
with senseless acts of violence is ‘don’t do it’.” “Our office, together
with our law enforcement partners, is vigilant, working day and night
to hold those committing crimes accountable. We will continue these
efforts to ensure that the community can feel safe and community members
can enjoy the summer.”
Over the last year, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has worked closely
with the RPD, ATF, FBI, USMS, NYSP, MCSO, DEA, and the Monroe County
District Attorney's Office to target, investigate, and bring federal
charges against violent offenders and those who possess and illegally
use guns in Rochester. To that end, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has
adjusted its charging practices to communicate with RPD and ATF, quickly
and effectively, to screen gun arrests and determine whether they are
appropriate for federal prosecution. Once federal charges are brought,
in appropriate cases, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will make a motion to
the court to detain defendants who pose a danger to the community or who
are likely to flee pending trial. This has helped reduce the number of
violent offenders and illegal gun possessors who are returned to the
community after arrest, which has helped to reduce violence in the city.
As part of its gun violence initiative, the U.S. Attorney’s Office
has pursued larger, more organized violent groups. Working closely with
RPD, ATF and other law enforcement partners, the Office has targeted
two violent groups who were engaged in a feud with each other. As a
result of this investigation, 23 defendants have been charged in
criminal complaints. In addition to these complaints, last week the
federal grand jury in Rochester returned a 10-count indictment against
Brandon Washington, Deadrick Fulwiley, Derrick Steele and Jermell
Washington, charging them with conspiracy to possess with intent to
distribute more than 100 kilograms of marijuana from various drug houses
they operated in the City of Rochester. The four defendants are also
charged with possessing, using, and carrying firearms in furtherance of
their drug trafficking crimes. In addition, Brandon Washington and
Deadrick Fulwiley are charged with possessing, using, and carrying a
machine gun in furtherance of their drug trafficking crimes. Brandon
Washington is alleged to be the leader of an armed drug trafficking
organization in Rochester that became involved in a violent dispute with
a rival gang headed by Rasheem Sullivan during the summer of 2022.
Sullivan, along with eight additional Bloods gang members, were charged
in December 2022 with narcotics conspiracy and weapons offenses. The
conflict between Washington and Sullivan resulted in multiple instances
of violence, including drive-by shootings, arsons, assaults, and
murders. These included the ambush shooting of Rochester Police Officers
Anthony Mazurkiewicz and Sino Seng on July 21, 2023, which resulted in
the death of Officer Mazurkiewicz.
As a result of the hard work of our law enforcement partners and our
collaboration with the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office, since
July of 2022, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has charged approximately 100
defendants with federal gun crimes. These arrests and the underlying
investigations have resulted in more than 100 illegal firearms being
removed from the community. Most importantly, these efforts have
resulted in a reduction in the volume of gun violence in Rochester in
the first half of 2023.
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