Armed Schenectady Drug Dealer Pleads Guilty to Multiple Federal Offenses

ALBANY, NEW YORK - Emery Moore, age 57, of Schenectady, New York pled guilty May 20^th, to distributing methamphetamine, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession of a firearm as a felon. First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Farhana Islam and Schenectady Police Chief Brian Whipple made the announcement.

As part of his guilty plea, Moore admitted that on five occasions from March through July, 2025, he sold methamphetamine and cocaine in Schenectady, including at his home and on a playground. Moore further admitted that when DEA agents executed a search warrant at his home in July 2025, they recovered three guns, 50 rounds of ammunition, and 91 grams of cocaine that he intended to sell. Moore was prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition under federal law because he had been previously convicted of numerous felonies, including state drug and gun offenses.

"Thanks to the fine work of the DEA and Schenectady Police Department, this repeat offender will be spending a minimum of 10 years to life in federal prison where he can no longer poison our streets." Said First Assistant U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III. "My office along with our partners are committed to Project Safe Neighborhoods by deploying the resources of the federal government to stop the crime and drug abuse plaguing our communities."

"Drugs and weapons too often go hand in hand. Today's guilty plea from Emery Moore serves a clear reminder that justice will be delivered to those who flood our communities with illicit drugs" stated DEA New York Enforcement Division Special Agent in Charge Farhana Islam. "The DEA remains steadfast in its commitment to working alongside our law enforcement partners in protecting our communities and enhancing public safety."

Schenectady Police Department Chief Brian Whipple stated: "This guilty plea is another powerful example of what can be accomplished through strong local and federal partnerships to get deadly guns and dangerous drugs off our streets. Every firearm and narcotic removed from our community has the potential to save numerous lives and prevent devastation throughout our community."

When he is sentenced by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth C. Coombe on September 9, 2026, Moore faces a combined mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years, a maximum term of imprisonment of up to life, a maximum fine of up to $5,500,000, and a term of supervised release of at least 4 years and up to life. A defendant's sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statutes that the defendant is convicted of violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.

Moore has been detained since his July 1, 2025 arrest.

The DEA investigated the case with significant assistance from the Schenectady Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua R. Rosenthal is prosecuting 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.