Omjasisa Kentu Felder, a 53-year-old resident of Troy, New York, has been charged with marijuana trafficking and gun-related offenses. The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman, alongside officials from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Troy Police Department, and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
According to the indictment, Felder is accused of possessing a 9mm handgun in connection with a drug trafficking crime and as a convicted felon. He is also charged with possessing marijuana with intent to distribute in November 2022 and conspiring to distribute marijuana between 2021 and November 2022. It is important to note that these charges are accusations, and Felder is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Felder appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Stewart in Albany for arraignment and was ordered detained pending trial.
If convicted, Felder faces significant penalties: at least five years to life imprisonment for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; up to 15 years for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; and up to five years on each marijuana trafficking count. Additionally, he could face fines up to $250,000 per count and post-release supervision ranging from two years to life.
The investigation involves multiple agencies including the ATF, DEA, Troy Police Department, and HSI. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cyrus P.W. Rieck and Dustin C. Segovia are handling the prosecution.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) initiative aimed at dismantling high-level criminal organizations through collaborative efforts among federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.