ALBANY, N.Y. – A Watervliet man admitted Monday to trading cocaine for stolen guns, pleading guilty to two federal firearms charges tied to a 2022 burglary at a Hudson Falls gun shop.
Prosecutors said 34-year-old Kwahpreme Mitchell admitted he received firearms from Jonathon Combs and Martin Taft, who had stolen them from Calamity Jane’s Firearms and Fine Shoes on Oct. 21, 2022. In exchange, Mitchell agreed to provide the pair with 150 grams of cocaine. Days earlier, on Oct. 15, Mitchell also gave Combs about 3.5 grams of crack cocaine in return for a shotgun, according to court documents.
Mitchell was prohibited from having guns because of a prior felony drug conviction. Federal prosecutors said his actions tied narcotics to stolen weapons, creating what law enforcement described as a serious threat to public safety.
Acting U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III said Mitchell “admitted to using drugs to purchase stolen firearms” and pledged that federal prosecutors would pursue every armed drug dealer they identify. ATF Special Agent in Charge Bryan Miller called the case an example of “the dangerous intersection of firearms trafficking and illegal drugs.”
The New York State Police and Washington County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the investigation, which authorities credited to strong local, state, and federal collaboration.
Mitchell is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 9, 2026, by U.S. District Judge Anne M. Nardacci. He faces a mandatory minimum of five years in prison, a maximum of life, a fine of up to $250,000, and supervised release of up to five years.
The case was investigated as part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods program, which targets violent offenders and gun crime.
Key Points
- Kwahpreme Mitchell, 34, pled guilty to two federal firearms charges.
- He admitted trading cocaine for guns stolen from Calamity Jane’s Firearms in 2022.
- Sentencing is set for Jan. 9, 2026, with a minimum of 5 years and a maximum of life in prison.