Hogansburg Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug and Firearm Crimes

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK - Joseph Thompson, age 37, of Hogansburg, New York, pled guilty yesterday to possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Bryan Miller, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), New York Field Division, made the announcement.

As part of his guilty plea, Thompson admitted that in June 2023, he arranged to meet another individual at a parking lot in Massena, NY, for the purpose of selling marijuana in exchange for firearms. Thompson admitted that he gave the individual approximately 18 pounds of marijuana in exchange for 7 semiautomatic pistols and ammunition magazines. During the transaction, Thompson said that he was a "middle guy," and that he had a contact in Montreal who would pay him approximately $2,000 to $2,300 for each firearm. Thompson was arrested immediately after the transaction.

At sentencing, Thompson faces at least five years and up to life in federal prison, a total maximum fine of $500,000, and a term of post-imprisonment supervised release of at least 2 years and up to life. 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.

ATF investigated the case, with assistance from Quebec Provincial Police, St. Regis Tribal Police, New York State Police, U.S. Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, St. Lawrence County Sheriff's Office, Massena Police Department, and U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew J. McCrobie is prosecuting the case.