Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Brandon Prawl, age 28, of Schenectady, New York, was sentenced today to 84 months in prison for distributing heroin, possessing heroin with the intent to distribute, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; John B. DeVito, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); and New York State Police Acting Superintendent Steven A. Nigrelli.

A jury voted to convict Prawl on November 9, 2022, following a 3-day jury trial. The trial evidence established that on four dates in September 2019, Prawl distributed heroin out of a residence in Schenectady. On October 4, 2019, Prawl was found in possession of a .45 caliber pistol and loaded magazine, more than 21 grams of heroin, and drug distribution paraphernalia at the same residence. The jury concluded that Prawl possessed the heroin for distribution, and the firearm in furtherance of his drug trafficking activities.

United States District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby also imposed a 3-year term of post-imprisonment supervised release.

ATF and New York State Police investigated the case, and Assistant United States Attorneys Ashlyn Miranda and Emmet O’Hanlon prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.