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Rochester Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Crack Cocaine Trafficking
ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Kenneth Harper, a/k/a Frenchy, a/k/a Pudge, 34, of Rochester, NY, was sentenced to 15 years prison for his role in a large-scale crack cocaine trafficking operation.
According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert A. Marangola, Harper was identified during a long-term wiretap investigation targeting a Rochester-based drug-trafficking organization that obtained kilogram quantities of cocaine from Brooklyn, NY. The cocaine was transported to Rochester where it was processed, re-packaged, and distributed in various quantities of both powder and crack cocaine through multiple distributors in the Greater Rochester area, including Harper.
Harper was arrested on February 9, 2015, at 418 Lyell Avenue, along with Robert Wilson, a/k/a Bose, during the execution of a search warrant at that location. Officers also executed a search warrant at 295 Smith Street, another location used by Harper to traffic cocaine. Between the two locations, officers seized 29 bags of crack cocaine packaged for street sale, marijuana, a stolen Smith & Wesson, .357 caliber handgun loaded with five rounds of live ammunition, over $3,000 in U.S. currency, multiple cell phones, and paraphernalia for the packaging, processing, and distribution of cocaine such as beakers, digital scales, plate, strainer, sandwich bags, and baking soda.
On February 9 and 10, 2015, officers executed numerous additional search warrants in Rochester and in Brooklyn, and arrested several others, including Edward Mighty, Seymour Brown, Andre Taylor, a/k/a Stamma, Ricardo Bailey, a/k/a Diji, Desmond Bice, a/k/a Dez, and Christopher Samuels, a/k/a Cutty, all of Rochester, and Winifredo Gonzales, of Brooklyn. Desmond Bice is the only defendant who has not been convicted and still has charges pending.
The investigation was a joint effort between the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New York State Police, the Internal Revenue Service, the Rochester Police Department, and the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office.
Harper’s sentencing is the culmination of an investigation that targeted a Rochester-based drug-trafficking organization that was responsible for distributing kilogram quantities of cocaine in the Greater Rochester area. The case highlights the importance of collaboration between law enforcement agencies in disrupting and dismantling large-scale drug trafficking operations.
U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. stated, ‘This sentence is a significant blow to the drug trafficking organization that operated in Rochester. We will continue to work tirelessly to disrupt and dismantle these types of operations, and bring those responsible to justice.’
Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|Sex Crimes|Cybercrime|Public Corruption|Weapons|Human Trafficking|White Collar Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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