ROCHESTER, NY – Maurice Chatman, 42, is facing a potential 15-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. The plea, entered before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark W. Pedersen, brings a grim chapter to a case originating from a late-night call to Rochester Police last August.
According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Moynihan, officers responded to reports of a man openly carrying a rifle near Post Avenue and Aberdeen Street on August 3, 2022. Witnesses reported seeing the suspect walking down Aberdeen Street brandishing the weapon. Police quickly located Chatman standing in the driveway of 91 Aberdeen Street, the rifle resting on a nearby folding table.
Chatman’s arrest wasn’t just about the visible weapon. A check of his record revealed a lengthy history of felony convictions dating back to 1997, with further convictions in 2004, 2011, and 2015. These prior convictions legally barred him from owning or possessing any firearm.
The case was brought forward as part of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative, a broad program focused on reducing violent crime through targeted enforcement and community partnerships. PSN aims to address the most pressing violent crime problems and focuses on the most dangerous offenders.
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. The ATF played a key role in building the case against Chatman, ensuring a solid prosecution.
Chatman’s sentencing is currently scheduled for July 26, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. before U.S. District Judge David G. Larimer. In addition to a potential 15 years behind bars, Chatman faces a hefty fine of up to $250,000. The outcome will send a clear message: illegally possessing a firearm after repeated felony convictions will not be tolerated in Western New York.
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