MONTICELLO - On December 4, 2024, Sullivan County District Attorney, Brian P. Conaty, announced that a Sullivan County Jury found Isaiah "Tall Blood"  Blanch, 38, guilty of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a Class C violent felony, following a three-day trial.

The jury found that on June 12, 2023, Blanch illegally possessed a loaded and operable .380 caliber “Cobra Ent of Utah” pistol outside his home or place of business. Blanch, who has two prior felony convictions, faces 25 years to life in state prison as a Persistent Felony Offender and is due to be sentenced on January 30, 2025.

This case was prosecuted at trial by Chief Assistant District Attorney Michael J. Puma while Blanch was represented by Edward Bruno, Esq. Sullivan County Court. Judge James R. Farrell presided over the trial.

Sullivan County District Attorney Brian P. Conaty said, “I want to deeply thank the Village of Liberty Police Department for their thorough investigation into this case and for continuously working with my Office post-arrest to ensure the most successful prosecutions. It is cooperation amongst law enforcement agencies such as this, that safeguards the public safety of Sullivan County.

"I have continuously maintained my firm stance on the Second Amendment. However, illegal weapon possession leads to further violent crimes and is an insult to law-abiding citizens that have undertaken great efforts to comply with New York State gun laws to exercise their Second Amendment rights.”