Joshua Massey, Possession of Firearm by a Convicted Felon, New York 2022

Rochester Man Who Fled Police Pleads Guilty To Gun Charge

In a shocking turn of events, Joshua Massey, 32, of Rochester, NY, pleaded guilty to possession of firearm by a convicted felon. This crime carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Katelyn M. Hartford stated that Massey was previously convicted of multiple felonies in 2012 and 2013 and is legally prohibited from possessing a firearm and ammunition. On July 30, 2022, as Rochester Police officers attempted to initiate a traffic stop on the vehicle Massey was driving, Massey crashed the vehicle at the corner of Perkins Avenue and Norran Drive.

Massey then exited the vehicle and fled on foot but was apprehended after a foot chase. Officers saw, in plain view on the driver’s side floorboard of the vehicle, a loaded 9mm pistol.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.

The plea is the culmination of an investigation by the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief David Smith and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge John Devito.

Sentencing is scheduled for May 22, 2023, before Chief U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford.

Massey's guilty plea marks a significant victory for law enforcement and the community. It serves as a reminder that those who break the law will be held accountable.

The exact criminal charges against Massey are possession of firearm by a convicted felon. The city and state where the crime took place is Rochester, New York. The exact date of the crime is July 30, 2022. The sentence or outcome of the case is pending sentencing on May 22, 2023. The maximum penalty for this crime is 15 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdny/pr/rochester-man-who-fled-police-pleads-guilty-gun-charge