ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Roger Alexander, 42, of Rochester is heading to federal prison for a long stretch after being sentenced to 144 months – twelve years – on charges of possessing marijuana with intent to distribute and illegally carrying a firearm during the commission of a drug crime. U.S. District Judge Charles J. Siragusa handed down the sentence today, effectively removing a player from Rochester’s streets.
The bust went down September 7, 2012, when Rochester Police Department officers raided an apartment at 1220 Clifford Avenue. The scene quickly turned chaotic. As officers moved in, someone – later identified as Alexander – smashed a window and tossed something out. Officers found a loaded handgun amidst the broken glass below. Alexander was apprehended exiting a bathroom, sporting fresh cuts and bleeding from his forearms, suggesting a desperate attempt to ditch evidence.
Inside the apartment, the search yielded nearly a pound of marijuana and over $3,000 in cash. This wasn’t a small-time operation. Police also discovered multiple scales, the kind used by dealers to accurately weigh out their product, and a stash of ammunition in various calibers – including .45 and .38 – indicating Alexander wasn’t shy about arming himself. Co-defendant Edward Jackson was also taken into custody at the scene.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles E. Moynihan, who prosecuted the case, built a solid case linking Alexander to the drug operation and the firearm. Jackson, implicated as an accomplice, previously received a 90-month sentence for his role in the conspiracy. The length of both sentences sends a clear message: Rochester won’t tolerate the combination of drug dealing and gun violence.
The investigation was a joint effort between Special Agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), led by Special Agent in Charge Delano A. Reid, and the Rochester Police Department, under Chief Michael Ciminelli. The ATF’s involvement highlights the federal focus on curbing illegal firearms trafficking, particularly when tied to drug activity.
Alexander’s 12-year sentence is a harsh reminder that dealing drugs and possessing illegal firearms carries significant consequences. While this conviction removes one individual, the Grimy Times will continue to track and report on the ongoing battle against crime in Rochester and beyond. Contact Barbara Burns at (716) 843-5817 for further inquiries.
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime|Weapons|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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