(WNY News Now) – ROCHESTER, N.Y. – A Rochester man has admitted to playing a central role in a major drug trafficking conspiracy and faces a lengthy prison sentence.
Shawnle McClary, 48, pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiracy to distribute over five kilograms of cocaine and 400 grams of fentanyl, as well as possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking. U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr., accepted the plea, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum of life imprisonment.
According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert A. Marangola, McClary was a key figure in a drug distribution network that operated between 2021 and January 2024. The conspiracy involved multiple individuals, including Timothy Jackson, Jr., Gary Fuller, and Felicia Collins, who collaborated to package, transport, and sell cocaine and fentanyl.
Law enforcement dismantled the operation following searches of several Rochester locations on January 17, 2024. These searches uncovered 805 grams of cocaine, 210 grams of fentanyl, $7,682 in cash, drug paraphernalia, and seven loaded firearms. Investigators also seized additional drugs from McClary’s residence in the Town of Greece.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) initiative, a national program designed to dismantle high-level criminal organizations. Agencies involved include the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Rochester Police Department.
McClary is scheduled for sentencing on April 9, 2025.
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