Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced that Desmond Roberts, 32, of Coram, was sentenced to 10 years in prison, followed by five years of post-release supervision. This follows his guilty plea in April to illegally possessing a loaded semi-automatic firearm and various narcotics found during a court-ordered search of his residence in June 2023.
“Today’s 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 Roberts' admissions during his guilty plea allocution, members of the Suffolk County Police Department executed a search warrant at Roberts’ residence on June 9, 2023. Detectives discovered a loaded Smith and Wesson 9 mm semi-automatic firearm along with 9.71 ounces of cocaine, 4.56 ounces of fentanyl, and 0.58 ounces of oxycodone. The drugs were packaged in a manner consistent with drug sales.
Law enforcement also found drug paraphernalia including 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 present near the drugs and firearm.
Roberts was serving probation for a 2018 conviction for Attempted Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree when this offense occurred.
On April 19, 2024, Roberts pleaded guilty to Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Second Degree before Supreme Court Justice Richard Ambro.