Syracuse Man Sentenced for Drug and Gun Offenses

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – A man who previously had been found guilty in December 2014 by a federal jury of Possessing with the Intent to Distribute Crack Cocaine; Possessing a Gun in Furtherance of his Drug Dealing; and being a Felon in Possession of a Gun, was sentenced to a term of incarceration in U. S. District Court in Syracuse. SHAEEM GRADY (A/K/A SHAHEEM GRADY), 29, of Syracuse, NY, was sentenced to 75 months incarceration, 3 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a special assessment of $300 by Senior, U.S. District Judge Frederick J. Scullin, Jr., according to U.S. Attorney Richard S. Hartunian.

GRADY was arrested on March 22, 2013, when Syracuse police officers observed a baggie of crack cocaine in his lap as GRADY sat in the passenger seat of a car illegally parked on Catawba Street. Police attempted to place GRADY under arrest but GRADY violently resisted them while attempting to gain access to the center console of the vehicle where a loaded handgun was later recovered.

During GRADY’s struggle with the police he told the driver of the vehicle to “pull off, drive away” while the officers were trying to physically remove him from the car. Officers were eventually able to take GRADY into custody. Later, as GRADY was walked to the Public Safety Building he stated to one of the officers “I wasn’t going to kill you.” GRADY was prohibited from possessing a firearm due to a 2002 conviction for Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree.

This prosecution resulted from an investigation conducted by the Syracuse Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Geoffrey Brown. Further questions may be directed to Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney John Duncan at (315) 448-0672.