United States Drug Enforcement Administration

ROCHESTER, NEW YORK – Deshan Scott, 23, of Rochester, NY, who was convicted of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, was sentenced to serve 60 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr.     

Assistant U.S. Attorney Katelyn M. Hartford, who handled the case, stated that between September and October 26, 2021, Scott conspired with others to sell cocaine. In the early morning of October 26, 2021, investigators executed search warrants at numerous locations associated with the narcotics conspiracy, including a residence on Bernard Street. At that location, Scott worked as a lookout for the organization, watching for threats to their operation such as law enforcement or armed robbers, while other co-conspirators sold street-level quantities of cocaine to customers. When Scott saw law enforcement approaching, he threw a loaded 9mm handgun out of a window, which was found on a roof ledge outside a window. During the search of the residence, law enforcement also recovered 200 plastic vials of cocaine and $2,310 United States currency.

The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Frank A. Tarentino III, New York Division; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge John B. DeVito, New York Field Division; Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Matthew Scarpino; Immigration and Customs Enforcement, under the direction of Acting Field Office Director Thomas Brophy; the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, under the direction of Thomas Fattorusso, Special Agent in Charge, the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Brian J. Ratajczak; the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Todd Baxter; the Ontario County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Philip Povero; the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Police Chief David M. Smith; the Greece Police Department, under the direction of Chief Michael Wood; the Brighton Police Department, under the direction of Chief David Catholdi; and the Greater Rochester Area Narcotics Enforcement Team.