Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

BOSTON – A Worcester man was indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury on charges of drug and firearm possession.

Rodney Hall, 36, was indicted on possession with intent to distribute more than 280 grams of cocaine base and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Hall was charged by criminal complaint in December 2020.

According to charging documents, on Sept. 30, 2020, Hall was arrested after he sold approximately 14 grams of crack cocaine for $1,500 to an individual in Worcester. At the time of his arrest, Hall had approximately $2,300 in cash, two cell phones and a key to a Mercedes-Benz.

A search of Hall’s residence resulted in the seizure of approximately 650 grams of cocaine, a loaded 9 mm Beretta semi-automatic pistol, a homemade pistol, ammunition, a digital scale, plastic baggies and approximately $7,000 in cash. Hall is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to his criminal history, which includes previous convictions for possession of a large capacity weapon and trafficking cocaine.

Due to Hall’s prior conviction for drug trafficking, if convicted of the new drug offense, he faces a minimum sentence of 15 years and up to life in prison, at least 10 years and up to life of supervised release and a fine of up to $15 million. The charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Kelly Brady, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; Brian Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Boston Field Division made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney John T. Mulcahy of Lelling’s Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. PSN is part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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