United States of America v. Walter H. Bennett

Rochester, New York criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, 40 grams or more of fentanyl, 10 grams or more of a fentanyl analogue, and 500 grams or more of cocaine, and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crimefentanyl and gun charges

Prior felon going back to prison for 16 years on fentanyl and gun charges

U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Walter H. Bennett, 34, of Rochester, NY, who was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, 40 grams or more of fentanyl, 10 grams or more of a fentanyl analogue, and 500 grams or more of cocaine, and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, was sentenced to serve 192 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Charles J. Siragusa.



Assistant U.S. Attorney Brett A. Harvey, who handled the case, stated that Bennett, a two-time convicted felon, was a leader of a drug trafficking organization that distributed significant quantities of fentanyl, para-fluorofentanyl (a lethal fentanyl analogue), and cocaine in the Rochester, and Augusta, Maine, areas. Bennett and his co-conspirators operated a drug house on Woodward Street in Rochester, where they sold these drugs. They also stored controlled substances, firearms, magazines, and ammunition, at houses on Argo Park and Clairmount Street. During the investigation, law enforcement recovered approximately 158 grams of fentanyl, 11 grams of para-fluorofentanyl, and 580 grams of cocaine, along with more than $20,000 in drug proceeds, six firearms, including two stolen firearms and a defaced handgun, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, and seven magazines.



Co-defendants Tyrik Edwards, Ray C. Mack, Jr., and Steven Jackson were previously convicted and were sentenced to serve 160 months, 135 months, and 48 months in prison respectively.



The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan, the Monroe County Sheriff's Office, under the direction of Sheriff Todd Baxter, and the Rochester Police Department and the Greater Rochester Area Narcotics Enforcement Team, under the direction of Chief David M. Smith.