Oneida County Man Sentenced To Prison For Drug & Gun Charges
Monday, April 7, 2025, 7:45 A.M. ET. 2 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,
ALBANY, NY.- On Friday, a 34-year-old Clayville, New York, man, and two-time convicted felon learned he would be spending the next decade in federal prison for distributing cocaine and crack cocaine throughout Oneida County, New York, and illegally possessing firearms.
On Friday, April 4, 2025, Leshawn Thomas, 34, of Clayville, New York, appeared in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York and was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Brenda K. Sannes to 120 months in federal prison, to be followed by eight years of supervised release for his previously entered guilty plea to Possession with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances, and being a Prohibited Person in Possession of Firearms.
According To The U.S. Attorney’s Office
According to U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone, III, and statements made in District Court during his plea allocution, Thomas, who has two prior felony convictions, admitted to possessing and intending to distribute around 3.01 kilograms of cocaine and 268.14 grams of crack cocaine in and around Oneida County, New York in and around April 28, 2023. Thomas further admitted to possessing two loaded semi-automatic handguns during that time.
Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from owning or possessing firearms and ammunition. Thomas knew when he possessed the two semi-automatic handguns, he was a prohibited person due to his two prior felony convictions.
In handing down the sentence on Friday, Judge Sannes noted Thomas’ prior criminal history. In addition to the term of imprisonment and supervised release, Judge Sannes also ordered Thomas to forfeit the two semi-automatic handguns seized during the investigation.
U.S. Attorney Sarcone commended the investigative work of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office, the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office, and the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision for the investigation, which led to the successful prosecution of Thomas.
