Four Indicted for Narcotics and Firearms Offenses Following the Seizure of Over 30 Firearms in Monticello, New York
Damian Williams, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today the unsealing of a Superseding Indictment charging multiple defendants with narcotics and firearm offenses in and around Monticello, New York, following the recovery of body armor, ammunition and approximately 30 firearms from the residence of Dwayne Johnson. Johnson, who was previously arrested on May 24, 2023, is charged with conspiracy to engage in narcotics trafficking, possession of short-barreled rifles in furtherance of the narcotics conspiracy, unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition, unlawful possession of body armor, aiding and abetting the unlawful interstate transfer of firearms and aiding and abetting firearms trafficking. Jessica Francis, who was previously arrested on Sept. 14, 2023, is charged with engaging in the narcotics conspiracy with Johnson. Lori Cooney was arrested earlier today in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and is charged with the unlawful interstate transfer of firearms to Johnson. Teresa Santini was arrested earlier today in Milford, Pennsylvania, and is charged with trafficking firearms to Johnson and the unlawful interstate transfer of firearms to Johnson.
Santini and Cooney were presented in federal court earlier today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith C. McCarthy. Johnson and Francis will be arraigned before U.S. District Court Judge Vincent Briccetti on March 13.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said, “As alleged, the sheer number of firearms recovered from Johnson’s residence — which include assault weapons, short-barreled rifles and an untraceable “ghost gun” — underscores the harsh reality of violence that accompanies drug trafficking and the danger its poses to communities. Today’s Superseding Indictment sends a clear message that those who engage in violent and illegal enterprises and those who offer their support will face federal criminal charges.”
As alleged in the Complaint previously filed in this case and the Superseding Indictment unsealed today:
Between at least October 2016 through May 2023, Johnson, Francis and others known and unknown conspired to possess with the intent to distribute over 1,000 kilograms of marijuana. In 2023, law enforcement secured a warrant to search Johnson’s known Gmail Account, which contained multiple photos and videos associated with Johnson’s marijuana trafficking business, including videos of Johnson counting large quantities of cash in a particular room within his residence, photographs of marijuana in its retail packaging and pounds of marijuana stored on tables and in a safe within the house. In one video, Johnson can be seen holding stacks of U.S. currency, counting a stack of bills, and saying, in sum and substance, that it’s “hard work” to accrue that amount of currency. Johnson then pans to the walls of guns and states, “you have to protect it, though.” Johnson also can be heard in a video saying, “Just in case you think you can fuck with my money, you come and I’ll spread you with a 12-gauge, you run and I’ll catch you with the 30 aught 6 or the 308.”
Screenshots taken from videos and photos taken from the Gmail Account are depicted below:
During the pendency of the conspiracy, Cooney and Santini separately and unlawfully transferred, sold, traded, gave, transported or otherwise delivered to Johnson multiple firearms from Pennsylvania, including five pistols, the lower receiver of a short-barreled rifle and the upper receiver of a second short-barreled rifle.
Johnson, 44, of Monticello, New York, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute over 1,000 kilograms of marijuana, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison; possession of a short-barreled rifle in furtherance of the narcotics conspiracy, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison to be served consecutively to any sentence for the underlying conspiracy and a maximum sentence of life in prison; unlawful possession of firearms, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison; unlawful possession of ammunition, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison; firearms trafficking, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison; unlawful interstate transfer of firearms, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison; and unlawful possession of body armor, which carries a maximum sentence of three years in prison.
Francis, 35, of Monticello, New York, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute over 1,000 kilograms of marijuana, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison.
Cooney, 57, of Scranton, Pennsylvania, is charged with unlawful interstate transfer of firearms, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
Santini, 45, of Milford, Pennsylvania, is charged with firearms trafficking, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison and unlawful interstate transfer of firearms, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
The minimum and maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by a judge.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI Hudson Valley Safe Streets Task Force; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); the Sullivan County District Attorney’s Office; the New York State Police; and the Hudson Valley White Collar Crime Task Force.
This case is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kaiya Arroyo is in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Superseding Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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