Ten years in prison for being caught with drugs and guns near multiple children.
That’s the sentence given to 32-year-old Desmond Roberts, the Coram man who pled guilty in April to illegally possessing a loaded semi-automatic firearm, fentanyl, cocaine, and oxycodone, which investigators found in close proximity to multiple children during the execution of a court-ordered search warrant of his residence in June 2023.
“(The) sentencing underscores the severity of repeated criminal behavior, especially when it endangers the safety of young children. Despite being on probation for a prior felony conviction, the defendant again violated the law by illegally possessing a gun and illegal substances,” said District Attorney Tierney. “This sentence reflects our commitment to holding offenders accountable and protecting our community from recidivists.”
According to court documents and the defendant’s admissions during his guilty plea allocution, on June 9, 2023, members of the Suffolk County Police Department executed a search warrant at Roberts’ residence in Coram.
During their search, detectives found a loaded Smith and Wesson 9 mm semi-automatic firearm, as well as 9.71 ounces of cocaine, 4.56 ounces of fentanyl, and 0.58 ounces of oxycodone. All the drugs were packaged in a manner consistent with drug sales. In addition, law enforcement found drug paraphernalia including drug packaging material, diluents, three digital scales, multiple cellular phones, and more than $190,000 in cash.
At the time of the search, three young children were in the home near the drugs and gun.
At the time of the offense, Roberts was serving a sentence of probation for a 2018 conviction for Attempted Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, a Class C felony.
On April 19, 2024, Roberts pleaded guilty to Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a Class C violent felony, and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Second Degree, an A-II felony, before Supreme Court Justice Richard Ambro.
On August 16, 2024, Justice Ambro sentenced Roberts to 10 years in prison followed by five years of post-release supervision.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Dennis Wouters of the Narcotics Bureau, and the investigation was conducted by Detective Thomas Daley of the Suffolk County Police Department’s Narcotics Enforcement Special Operations Team.
The civil asset forfeiture action concerning the United States currency is being litigated by Assistant District Attorney Robert Barry of the Asset Forfeiture and Intelligence Bureau.