Albany County Felon Sentenced for Receiving Firearms Stolen from Hudson Falls Gun Store and Using the Firearms in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking (DOJ)

ALBANY, NEW YORK - Kwahpreme Mitchell, age 34, of Watervliet, New York, was sentenced January 9, 2026, to 106 months in federal prison for possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and possessing firearms as a convicted felon. Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III; Bryan DiGirolamo, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF); New York State Police (NYSP) Superintendent Steven G. James; and Washington County Sheriff Jeffrey J. Murphy made the announcement.

As part of his prior guilty plea, Mitchell admitted to receiving firearms from Jonathon Combs and Martin Taft that they had stolen from Calamity Jane's Firearms and Fine Shoes, a federally licensed firearms dealer, in Hudson Falls, New York, on October 21, 2022. In exchange for the stolen firearms, Mitchell agreed to provide Combs and Taft with 150 grams of cocaine, which they intended to distribute. Additionally, on or about October 15, 2022, Mitchell provided Combs with approximately 3.5 grams of cocaine base in exchange for a shotgun. Mitchell could not legally possess firearms, as he had been previously convicted of a New York State felony drug charge.

Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III stated: "Mitchell has now been held accountable for his poisoning of our communities with drugs and stolen guns. We again express our appreciation for the collaboration between ATF NY Albany, the NYSP, Washington County Sheriff's Office, and this Office in combating violent crime and keeping our communities safe."

Special Agent in Charge Bryan DiGirolamo, stated, "This sentence reflects the serious danger posed when stolen firearms are funneled into drug trafficking networks. Mitchell's actions tied together two violent threats - stolen guns and illegal drugs - putting communities at risk. ATF NY, alongside our state and local partners, remains committed to disrupting firearms trafficking at every point, holding offenders accountable, and preventing stolen guns from being used to fuel further crime and violence."

New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James stated, "I applaud our law enforcement officials at all levels for their strong police work and dedication to intercepting the trafficking of cocaine and weapons within our communities. The sentencing of Mr. Mitchell sends a clear message that we will find the people responsible for putting illegal substances and firearms in the hands of others. We will remain vigilant alongside our law enforcement partners in keeping these criminals off our streets and to maintain the safety of all New Yorkers."

Washington County Sheriff Jeffrey J. Murphy stated, "This sentencing sends a clear message-those who target businesses in our county will be held accountable. Through strong collaboration with our law enforcement partners, justice was served, and our commitment to the victims remains unwavering."

United States District Judge Anne M. Nardacci also imposed a 3-year term of supervised release to begin after Mithcell is released from prison.

NYSP, ATF and the Washington County Sheriff's Office investigated this case with assistance provided by the Washington and Warren County District Attorney's Offices. Assistant U.S. Attorney A.J. Vickey prosecuted the case.

Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice's violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psn.