Rodell Patterson, Engaging in the Business of Dealing Firearms Without a Federal License, New York 2023

ALBANY, N.Y. – Rodell Patterson, 51, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, has confessed to running an unlicensed firearms operation, funneling weapons into the Capital Region. Patterson pled guilty today to engaging in the business of dealing firearms without the required federal license, a move that could land him behind bars for years.

Federal prosecutors revealed that between 2021 and 2022, Patterson mailed eight packages originating from Baton Rouge, each containing firearms destined for addresses in and around Albany. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) began investigating after two of the shipped guns surfaced in June 2022 during a search of a Troy, New York apartment. The resident of that apartment was a parolee, raising immediate red flags.

According to court documents, Patterson wasn’t just blindly sending guns. He admitted to detailed conversations with the recipient in New York, discussing the specific types of firearms desired and negotiating payment. This level of coordination demonstrates a deliberate attempt to circumvent federal gun laws and profit from the illegal trade. U.S. Attorney Carla B. Freedman and ATF Special Agent in Charge John B. DeVito jointly announced the guilty plea, highlighting the ongoing efforts to stem the flow of illegal weapons.

Patterson now faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison, alongside a potential fine of up to $250,000 and a three-year term of supervised release. However, the final sentence will be determined by a judge, factoring in federal sentencing guidelines and the specifics of the case. The feds aren’t stopping there, though.

Adding to Patterson’s legal woes, he’s also facing charges in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana for possession of a firearm as a previously convicted felon. While these charges are still accusations – Patterson is presumed innocent until proven guilty – a conviction could add another 15 years to his potential prison time. The ATF’s Albany Field Office led the investigation, with crucial support from their counterparts in Baton Rouge and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Louisiana.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Reiner is spearheading the prosecution. This case serves as a stark reminder of the interstate networks fueling gun violence and the ATF’s commitment to dismantling them, one illegal shipment at a time. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case as it moves toward sentencing and any further legal developments.

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