Willie Mills, a 31-year-old resident of Schenectady, New York, has pleaded guilty to charges involving gun possession and drug distribution. The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman alongside Bryan Miller, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) New York Field Division, and Frank A. Tarentino III from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Field Division.
Mills confessed to having an EAA semiautomatic pistol and distributing 895 fentanyl pills. Due to a prior felony conviction for criminal possession of a firearm, Mills was prohibited from legally possessing the weapon.
The potential consequences for Mills include a mandatory prison sentence ranging from at least five years to a maximum of forty years. Additionally, he could face fines up to $5 million and a supervised release period lasting between four years and life. Sentencing will be determined by a judge who will consider relevant statutes, U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.
The DEA is leading the investigation with support from the Schenectady Police Department and ATF. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Paulbeck is handling the prosecution.