MONTICELLO, NY — District attorney Meagan K. Galligan announced that Jamell Russ, 39, of Syracuse, was sentenced in Sullivan County Court today to 15 years in prison with five years of post-release supervision for trafficking guns and narcotics in Sullivan County.

Russ, who has three previous felony convictions, was arrested following a traffic stop on State Route 17 in the Town of Liberty, Sullivan County on June 14, 2020. New York State Police Trooper Christopher Klingman stopped Russ, who was traveling with a seven-year-old child, for speeding. Ultimately, State Police discovered that Russ illegally possessed two loaded and operable handguns as well as heroin packaged for sale, scales used for packaging of controlled substances and invalid dealer plates. In addition to other evidence, DNA forensically linked Russ to the handling of the guns.

Following COVID-related delays, Russ was found guilty at the conclusion of a week-long jury trial on March 1, of Criminal Possession of a Weapon (two counts), Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, Endangering the Welfare of a Child and traffic violations. This morning, following arguments during which Galligan’s office recommended the maximum legal sentences based upon Russ’s criminal history and the circumstances of this case, Russ was sentenced by Sullivan County Court Judge Jim Farrell to 15 years in prison to be followed by five years of post-release supervision on each of his gun convictions, 12 years of incarceration to be followed by three years of post-release supervision on his drug conviction, and one year of incarceration on his conviction for Endangering the Welfare of a Child.

Galligan said, “Illegally possessed guns and drugs are a lethal combination. I appreciate the state police’s partnership with my office to take dangerous offenders like this, who profit from addictions that are killing members of our community at alarming rates, off the street. We will continue to do everything in our power, under the law, to keep Sullivan County safe.”

The case was prosecuted by assistant district attorney Brian Conaty. Galligan highly commended Conaty’s work and advocacy at trial and sentencing. She additionally thanked the members of the New York State Police Liberty barracks, VGNET, and Forensic Identification Center who dedicated time and resources for seeing this case through to trial conviction.