Uqoeon Lawrence, a 29-year-old resident of Syracuse, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to several drug and firearms charges. The sentence, handed down last week, follows Lawrence’s admission that he sold controlled substances such as fentanyl and methamphetamine in the Syracuse area. He also admitted to possessing a shotgun to protect his drug trafficking operation.
Lawrence was prohibited from owning firearms due to a prior felony conviction. Authorities said he illegally obtained two semi-automatic pistols purchased in Maine and resold them in Syracuse.
Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III commented on the case: “Uqoeon Lawrence peddled toxic drugs in Syracuse, protected his drug business with illegal firearms, and profited by pumping still more illegal guns into our community. Syracuse is safer with Lawrence behind bars, where he will remain for 15 years. My office is committed to bringing dangerous drug dealers like Lawrence to justice.”
Bryan Miller, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), added: “This case reflects our unwavering commitment to working alongside our law enforcement partners to protect the people of Syracuse. When individuals flood our streets with guns and deadly drugs, we respond as one team — focused on safeguarding our communities and holding offenders accountable. I’m grateful for the strong collaboration between ATF New York Syracuse Field Office, DEA, the Syracuse Police Department Intelligence Unit, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York.”
Chief United States District Judge Brenda K. Sannes also ordered a five-year term of supervised release following Lawrence’s prison sentence.
The investigation involved multiple agencies including ATF, the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Syracuse Police Department-Intelligence Unit (SPD-INTEL). The prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicolas Commandeur and retired Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Southwick.
This prosecution aligns with Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative by the Department of Justice aimed at reducing violent crime through coordinated enforcement efforts and partnerships with local programs for prevention and reentry support. More information about PSN can be found at https://www.justice.gov/psn.
