Former Corrections Officer Sentenced for Attempting to Distribute Marijuana

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Brad Rushford, age 35, of Ellenburg Depot, New York, was sentenced today to one year and one day in prison for his role in attempting to distribute 120 pounds of marijuana, announced United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith.   

As part of his guilty plea, Rushford admitted to coordinating the delivery of a 120-pound load of marijuana in March 2011.  Rushford provided a driver and scout cellphones to use in delivering the marijuana, but the marijuana was intercepted by law enforcement in Malone, New York.  At the time, Rushford worked as a Corrections Officer with the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision. 

United States District Judge David N. Hurd also sentenced Rushford to a 4-year term of supervised release and to pay a $6,000 fine.

This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations; Federal Bureau of Investigation; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service; New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, Office of Special Investigations; New York State Police; and the St. Regis Mohawk Tribal Police.  This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cyrus P.W. Rieck.