SYRACUSE, NY – Alfred Laquann “Merc” Thomas, 32, of Rome, New York, is headed to federal prison for nearly a decade. Thomas was sentenced today to 115 months for illegally possessing ammunition, a charge stemming from a brazen drive-by shooting in Syracuse back in August 2012. He’ll also serve three years of supervised release after his prison term ends. The case highlights a pattern of violence and a chilling disregard for community safety.
The connection to the 2012 shooting at 115 West Bissell Street was initially established when 911 callers identified Thomas and the vehicle he was driving as being involved. Investigators recovered two spent 12-gauge shotgun shells from the car’s rear seat – the same caliber ammunition used in the shooting. Crucially, several individuals, including an infant, were inside the residence when gunfire erupted. While Thomas initially walked free after being acquitted in a separate 2014 Syracuse murder case, he then dug his own grave.
In a stunning admission, Thomas confessed to the 2014 murder on Facebook, repeating those admissions later to federal agents. This revelation didn’t just reopen old wounds; it prompted the FBI and ATF to revisit the 2012 drive-by, linking it to the federal charge of a convicted felon possessing ammunition. That’s when the case gained real traction. On December 23, 2016, Thomas pled guilty to possessing two 12-gauge shotgun shells found in his pants pocket – a direct link to the earlier shooting.
United States Attorney Richard S. Hartunian didn’t mince words. “The lengthy sentence reflects Thomas’s long record of violent crime including his admissions that he had killed someone after being acquitted in a state homicide prosecution,” Hartunian stated. He praised the collaboration between Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Southwick, the FBI, ATF, Syracuse Police, and the Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office, calling it “outstanding collaboration and dogged persistence.”
Vadim D. Thomas, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albany Division, echoed that sentiment. “People like Mr. Thomas terrorize and destroy our communities through violence,” he said. “Today’s sentencing is the result of countless hours of hard work and dedication, and the FBI, together with our law enforcement partners, will continue to investigate individuals who jeopardize the safety of our communities through gun violence.”
The investigation was a joint effort between the FBI, ATF, and Syracuse Police Department, with prosecutorial support from Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard R. Southwick and assistance from the Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office. This case serves as a stark reminder that even years after a crime, persistent investigation and a defendant’s own admissions can lead to justice – and a lengthy prison sentence. Thomas’s history of violence, combined with his post-acquittal confession, sealed his fate.
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime|Weapons|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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