DOJ Seal

Department of Justice

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

For Immediate Release

Wednesday, March 29, 2017
Richard S. Hartunian
, United States Attorney
Contact: Michael Barnett

Jury Convicts Schenectady Felon of Firearm and Drug Charges

Defendant Accidentally Shot Himself

ALBANY, NEW YORK – A jury today convicted Edwin Ferrer, age 44, of Schenectady, New York, of unlawfully possessing a firearm and ammunition, as well as a small quantity of crack cocaine.
 
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Richard S. Hartunian and Ashan M. Benedict, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) New York Field Division.
 
The jury’s verdict followed a 3-day trial before United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino.  The evidence at trial showed that on December 18, 2015, Ferrer was driving his Cadillac SUV in Schenectady when he accidentally shot himself in the leg with his Smith & Wesson pistol.  Investigators searched his SUV and recovered the pistol, four rounds of ammunition, and approximately a quarter of a gram of crack cocaine. As a felon, Ferrer was prohibited from possessing the pistol and ammunition. 
 
Ferrer faces up 10 years in prison, 3 years of post-imprisonment supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000 when he is sentenced on July 26, 2017 by Judge D’Agostino.   A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.   
 
This case was investigated by the ATF and the Schenectady Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rick Belliss.
 
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New York Field Division