Albany County Felon Admits Receiving Firearms Stolen from Hudson Falls Gun Store and Using the Firearms in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking

ALBANY, NEW YORK - Kwahpreme Mitchell, age 34, of Watervliet, New York, pled guilty today to one count of possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and one count of possessing firearms as a convicted felon.

Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III; Bryan Miller, 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.

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 the 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, already a drug felon, admitted to using drugs to purchase stolen firearms. Drugs and guns are always a dangerous combination, which is why we will prosecute every armed drug dealer we can find. Thanks to the tremendous work of the ATF and our state and local partners following the October 2022 burglary of Calamity Jane's, our communities are now safe from this dealer, his drugs, and his stolen guns."

Special Agent in Charge Bryan Miller, stated, ""This case underscores the dangerous intersection of firearms trafficking and illegal drugs. A convicted felon exchanging cocaine for firearms - including guns stolen from a federally licensed dealer - poses a serious threat to public safety. Thanks to the outstanding collaboration between ATF NY Albany, the NYSP, Washington County Sheriff's Office, and the U.S. Attorney's Office NDNY, we were able to disrupt this illicit scheme. This outcome highlights the critical importance of strong partnerships at every level - local, state, and federal - in combating violent crime and keeping our communities safe."

New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James stated, "Collaborative efforts are an integral part of protecting against the crimes and associated terrors that come with illegal weapons and drug trafficking. The individual involved in this operation posed a significant threat to public safety and his guilty plea is a testament to the results we can achieve when agencies work together. We remain committed to targeting the sources of illicit gun and drug activity and holding those responsible fully accountable."

Washington County Sheriff Jeffrey J. Murphy stated, "This case underscores the dangers posed by individuals who engage in these activities. The combination of narcotics and firearms in our communities puts not only the public at risk but also law enforcement. I appreciate the assistance received from our State and Federal Partners."

Sentencing is scheduled for January 9, 2026, before United States District Judge Anne M. Nardacci. Mitchell faces at least 5 years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of post-imprisonment supervised release of up to 5 years. A defendant's sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statutes the defendant is convicted of violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.

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 Allen J. Vickey is prosecuting this 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.