Jerry Wesson, Gun Possession, New York 2023

ROCHESTER, NY – Jerry Wesson, a convicted felon, admitted in federal court today to illegally possessing a loaded .45 caliber pistol and ammunition. The plea brings Wesson, of Rochester, one step closer to facing a potentially lengthy prison sentence for violating federal gun laws.

According to court documents, the bust went down on September 23, 2022. Rochester Police officers were already looking for Wesson in connection with an alleged assault from July 25, 2022. They spotted him in a van on Champlain Street and moved to apprehend him. During the arrest, a loaded handgun was found on his person.

This wasn’t Wesson’s first brush with the law. Court records show he’s a repeat offender, with felony convictions in Monroe County Court dating back to October 2012 and July 2018. Those convictions legally barred him from owning or possessing any firearms or ammunition. He knowingly violated that prohibition, putting himself and potentially others at risk.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Cassie Kocher is prosecuting the case, and is seeking the maximum penalty allowed under the law. Wesson now faces up to 15 years behind bars and a hefty $250,000 fine. The case is a clear example of the federal government’s commitment to cracking down on violent crime and keeping guns out of the hands of those who shouldn’t have them.

The investigation was a joint effort between the Rochester Police Department, led by Chief David Smith, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge John B. DeVito. This case is part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program aimed at reducing gun violence by fostering collaboration between law enforcement and communities.

Wesson’s sentencing is scheduled for July 5, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. before U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr. The Grimy Times will be there to report on the outcome. This case serves as a stark reminder that federal agencies are actively pursuing and prosecuting individuals who illegally possess firearms, regardless of their prior criminal history.

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