DOJ Seal

Department of Justice

U.S. Attorney's Office
Northern District of New York

For Immediate Release

Thursday, August 21, 2014
Richard S. Hartunian
, United States Attorney
Contact: John Duncan

REVISED: Syracuse Man Sentenced on Gun Charge

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Yesterday, Derrick Richards (42, of Syracuse, NY) was sentenced to 37 months imprisonment in U. S. District Court according to United States Attorney Richard S. Hartunian. In February, Richards pled guilty to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, a felony under federal law. In addition to his term of incarceration, U.S. District Court Judge Glenn T. Suddaby ordered that Richards be placed on a 3 year term of federal supervised release.

In June 2013, Syracuse Police officers were called to a residence on W. Calthrop Avenue in Syracuse regarding a domestic dispute complaint involving a weapon. During their investigation police determined Richards was in possession of a 9mm Hi-Point rifle. Given that Richards had previously been convicted of Robbery in the First Degree, he was prohibited from possessing any firearms.

The case was investigated by the Syracuse Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Syracuse Resident Office and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Southwick.

New York Field Division