Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Dionel Hall, age 43, of Liverpool, New York, received an 84-month prison sentence as a result of his convictions for possessing with intent to distribute a controlled substance, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, and unlawfully possessing a firearm as a felon.

United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman, Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration New York Division, and New York State Police Acting Superintendent Steven A. Nigrelli made the announcement.

As part of his previous guilty plea, Hall admitted that on February 7, 2021, he possessed 995.6 grams of eutylone, also known as “molly,” which he intended to distribute to customers in Oneida County and elsewhere. Hall further admitted that on September 9, 2021, he possessed a loaded semiautomatic pistol, approximately 140 rounds of ammunition of various calibers, and $45,094.00 cash drug proceeds. Hall acknowledged that at the time of the offense, he knew that he had been convicted of multiple felony offenses punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year, and that he was also on parole at the time. Those prior convictions included a first-degree robbery conviction in 2003, for which he received a sentence in Monroe County Court of 18 years’ imprisonment.

U.S. District Judge David N. Hurd also imposed a 3-year term of supervised release to follow imprisonment, and the forfeiture of the firearm and ammunition involved in the offense. As part of his prior guilty plea, Hall agreed to the administrative forfeiture of the cash drug proceeds.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and New York State Police investigated the case with the assistance of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Utica Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew J. McCrobie prosecuted the case.