ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — A Rochester man pleaded guilty to drug trafficking and weapon charges after an investigation into a gang-related shooting of two Rochester Police officers, possessing illegal guns and more than 100kg of marijuana.
In federal court Friday, 40-year-old Brandon Washington pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 100kg or more of marijuana from May 2021 to July 2022, as well as possessing firearms in connection with drug trafficking during the same time period.
Washington is accused of being the ringleader of a deadly marijuana turf war between gangs, which investigators say led to the murder of RPD Officer Anthony Mazurkiewicz three years ago.
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Police uncovered all of these drugs and weapons through a search warrant in July 2022 at properties on St. Paul Street, Sixth Street, and Laser Street. Washington admitted to storing high quantities of marijuana at those residences, along with loaded firearms and thousands of rounds of ammunition…