DOJ Seal

Department of Justice

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

For Immediate Release

Thursday, September 7, 2017
James P. Kennedy, Jr.
, United States Attorney
Contact: Barbara Burns

Rochester Man Pleads Guilty to Gun Charge in the Furtherance of Drug Trafficking

ROCHESTER, N.Y.- Acting U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that David Triplett a/k/a Stuffy, 34, of Rochester, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of life, a fine of $250,000 or both. 
 
Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Marangola, who is handling the case, stated that Triplett was arrested following the execution of a search warrant at his residence at 3 Athens Street in Rochester. During the search, law enforcement officers found over 380 envelopes containing heroin, 150 bags of cocaine, fentanyl, seven cell phones, and a .32 caliber revolver, as well as drug distribution paraphernalia, including digital scales, baggies, and chemicals for mixing drugs.
 
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Rochester Police Department under the direction of Chief Michael Ciminelli and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Ashan Benedict, New York Field Division.
 
Sentencing is scheduled for December 4, 2017, at 3:30 p.m. before the Judge Wolford.
 
###
New York Field Division