United States Drug Enforcement Administration

ROCHESTER, N.Y. – On Wednesday, December 14, 2022, multiple law enforcement agencies utilized information collected from a long-term narcotics investigation to execute search warrants at seventeen locations within the City of Rochester; Town of Sweden, and Town of Greece.

This was a long-term investigation by the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office, the United States Attorney’s Office, the Rochester Police Department Special Investigations Section, the Drug Enforcement Administration New York Division, the Greater Rochester Area Narcotics Enforcement Team, the New York State Police, Border Patrol, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Greece Police Department, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, and Homeland Security Investigations.

During the course of the warrant executions, law enforcement seized eleven guns, including nine handguns, one assault rifle and one automatic shotgun. In addition to the firearms, law enforcement seized 23 grams of suspect crack cocaine, 8 grams of suspected cocaine, 320 grams of suspected fentanyl, comprised in hundreds of pills, 6.8 pounds of suspected marijuana, 50 pounds of K2, 3.45 pounds of suspected marijuana laced with fentanyl and $22,464 in cash. Twelve individuals were subsequently arrested, including 26-year-old Michael Nesmith, 29-year-old Evion Smith, 20-year-old Stephen McCloud, 18-year-old Rasheen Ross, 18-year-old Zakiar Ross, and 22-year-old Promys Pressley. The remaining six arrests are being prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office.

• Michael Nesmith was charged with two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the 2nd Degree.
• Evion Smith was charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree, Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the 2nd Degree, and two counts of Criminally Using Drug Paraphernalia in the 2nd Degree.
• Stephen McCloud was charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 1st Degree, Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree, Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the 4th Degree, two counts of Criminal Possession of a Firearm, and two counts of Criminally Using Drug Paraphernalia in the 2nd Degree.
• Rasheen Ross was charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 1st Degree, Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the 4th Degree, two counts of Criminal Possession of a Firearm, and two counts of Criminally Using Drug Paraphernalia in the 2nd Degree.
• Zakiar Ross was charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 1st Degree, Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the 4th Degree, two counts of Criminal Possession of a Firearm, and two counts of Criminally Using Drug Paraphernalia in the 2nd Degree.
•  Promys Pressley was charged with Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the 3rd Degree and Criminal Possession of a Firearm.

All six defendants were arraigned before Rochester City Court Judge Yacknin on Thursday, December 15, 2022.

The suspected narcotics organization was led by 29-year-old Rasheem Sullivan AKA “Coop,” who was involved in a violent feud with another drug organization headed by Brandon Washington AKA “B-Mac” which led to the murder of Rochester Officer Mazurkiewicz.  Rasheem Sullivan is among the individuals named in the federal complaint.

“These search warrants and seizures are the results of months of hard work from the numerous law enforcement agencies and our Special Investigations Bureau,” said Monroe County District Attorney Sandra Doorley. “The Monroe County District Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners are sending a clear message that we will not tolerate illegal narcotics and illegal firearms of any kind, and anyone involved with such activity will soon find themselves behind bars. We look forward to bringing these defendants to court.” 

“I want to thank the many agencies that helped to remove these violent offenders from our community,” said Rochester Police Chief David Smith. “I frequently admire the law enforcement collaboration that occurs in this community. Because of this important long-term investigation, there are less weapons and narcotics on our streets inciting violence.”

“This enforcement operation targeted three threats facing public safety and health: illegal guns, drugs, and violent crime,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Frank Tarentino. “I commend our law enforcement partners whose diligent work has shut down a violent drug trafficking organization whose crimes wreaked havoc throughout the Rochester area.”

"I would like to thank every person who was a part of the investigation that led to these arrests,” said Robin Catalano, Chief of the Special Investigations Bureau. “This investigation was a collaborative effort that helped remove dangerous weapons and narcotics off of our streets. The community is safer as a result of these arrests.”