Niagara Falls Man Pleads To Weapons Possession and Witness Tampering Charges

BUFFALO, N.Y.-- U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Rodriguez Brown, 35, of Niagara Falls, N.Y., pleaded guilty before Chief U.S. District Judge William M. Skretny, to being a felon in possession of a firearm and witness tampering. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both.

            Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Catherine Baumgarten, who is handling the case, stated that between 2009 and 2010, Brown sold crack cocaine in the City of Niagara Falls. In May 2010, Niagara Falls Police officers executed a search at the defendant’s residence on 77th Street and recovered a loaded shotgun and ammunition. Brown was indicted on charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm and related drug offenses in August of 2010. In April 2012, with federal charges pending, Brown attempted to bribe a witness in the case and was charged additionally with witness tampering.

            The plea is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of Resident Agent in Charge Frank Christiano, the Niagara Falls Police Department, under the direction of Chief Bryan DalPorto, and the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Daniel Derenda.

            Sentencing is scheduled for August 27, 2013 at 9:00 a.m. before Judge Skretny.