Prior Felon Arrested on Gun And Drug Charges
ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Jesus Santiago, 32, of Rochester, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with possession with intent to distribute marijuana, being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The charges carry a maximum penalty of life in prison and a $1,000,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Cassie Kocher, who is handling the case, stated that on June 23, 2022, U.S. Probation Officers searched Santiago’s residence on Glide Street in Rochester, during which they recovered a loaded semi-automatic handgun, ammunition, a quantity of marijuana, and drug packaging materials. Santiago was previously convicted in 2016 in Erie County Court and in 2019 in the Western District of New York on firearms charges and is legally prohibited from possessing a firearm and ammunition.
Santiago made an initial appearance this morning before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark W. Pedersen and was detained.
The criminal complaint is the result of an investigation by U.S. Marshal’s Task Force, under the direction of Marshal Charles Salina, the U.S. Probation Department, under the director of Chief Probation Officer Timothy Englert, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge John DeVito, New York Field Division.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
