Rochester Man Pleads Guilty to Rioting During Rochester Civil Unrest in May 2020
ROCHESTER, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Marquis Frasier, 29, of Rochester, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Charles J. Siragusa to rioting, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison, and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Cassie M. Kocher, who is handling the case, stated that on May 30, 2020, Frasier participated with others in a public protest near the Public Safety Building on Exchange Street in Rochester, which turned violent and resulted in vandalism, damaged property, looting, and fires. During the course of the protest, Frasier and others set fire to a mobile office located across the street from the Public Safety Building. Frasier assisted in lighting the mobile office on fire by throwing a bottle containing an accelerant and a rag into the mobile office. The burning of the mobile office was broadcast and recorded on Facebook Live, which streamed the burning of the mobile office online in real time. The mobile office was completely destroyed by fire.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge John B. Devito, New York Field Division; the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief David Smith; the Gates Police Department, under the direction of Chief James VanBrederode; the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Todd Baxter; the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Barry Chase; the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Stephen Belongia; the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office, under the direction of District Attorney Sandra Doorley; the Greater Rochester Area Narcotics Enforcement Team; the Rochester Fire Department, under the direction of Fire Chief Willie Jackson; and the United States Marshal’s Service, under the direction of United States Marshal Charles Salina.
Sentencing is scheduled for October 6, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. before Judge Siragusa.
