ALBANY, NEW YORK – Sherrod Johnson, aka “Rod,” age 28, of Troy, New York, was sentenced yesterday to 81 months in prison for possessing and intending to distribute heroin on separate occasions in 2019 and 2020, and to possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime in 2020.
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 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); and Timothy Foley, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division.
In pleading guilty, Johnson admitted to possessing and intending to distribute heroin mixed with fentanyl discovered in his apartment on Seventh Avenue in Troy in March 2019. Over a year later, on April 1, 2020, law enforcement observed Johnson flash a handgun on Facebook Live and the following morning attempted to stop Johnson in the Corliss Park area of Troy. Johnson fled, and as he was pursued by police, placed a loaded .40 caliber handgun in a grill. Johnson was ultimately captured and in searching his Corliss Park apartment, law enforcement discovered 18 bundles of heroin and four digital scales. Johnson, who possessed over $5,600 in cash at the time of his arrest, admitted to possessing and intending to distribute the 18 bundles of heroin and to possessing the handgun to protect his heroin and drug proceeds.
Johnson was also sentenced to a 3-year term of post-release supervision.
The case was investigated by the ATF, DEA, and Troy Police Department, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cyrus P.W. Rieck.