Madison County Man Arrested on Federal Drug and Firearms Charges

 SYRACUSE, NEW YORK - Shawn Tompkins, age 40, of Hubbardsville, New York, appeared in federal court yesterday afternoon on a criminal complaint charging him with federal methamphetamine and marijuana distribution charges, and possession of firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, announced Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon and Kevin M. Kelly, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

Tompkins was arrested and charged by complaint on November 4, 2020.  The criminal complaint alleges that Tompkins possessed with the intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine, and marijuana.  It further alleges that he possessed one or more firearms in furtherance of those offenses.  During a search of Tompkins’s residence, law enforcement recovered approximately 35 firearms, including assault rifles; thousands of rounds of ammunition; two silencers; 17 lower receivers; and a replica grenade launcher. 

The defendant is currently held in custody without bail pending a detention hearing.

If convicted of the charges set forth in the complaint, the defendant faces up 40 years’ imprisonment, with a mandatory minimum term of five years’ imprisonment, on the drug charge, and up to life imprisonment, with a mandatory minimum term of five years’ consecutive imprisonment, on the firearms charge.  A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.

The charges in the complaint are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

This case is being investigated the United States Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office, the Madison County Sheriff’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew D. Beaty.