Three men from the Rochester area have been arrested on federal cocaine-trafficking charges following a Homeland Security Task Force investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration's New York Enforcement Division announced on October 20, 2026, in a joint announcement with U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo and FBI Buffalo Special Agent-in-Charge Allen D. Davis II. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of New York published the same arrests and seizures in its own release the same day.

Rodney Stanley, 58, of Greece, is charged with possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. Leonardo Gaskin, 36, of West Henrietta, is charged with possession with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. Shanimba Nelson, 52, of Irondequoit, is charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, the DEA said. The charges carry a minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life, according to the announcement.

According to the criminal complaints, the DEA, the Rochester and Greece police departments and the FBI investigated an organisation responsible for distributing kilogram quantities of cocaine in Rochester and Albany, with members transporting cocaine from the New York tri-state area and the Philadelphia area. Investigators said Gaskin's vehicle was observed travelling from Rochester to the Philadelphia area on October 8, staying about 15 minutes, and returning overnight to his West Henrietta residence. On October 9, searches of Gaskin's residence and vehicle seized approximately 23 kilograms of suspected cocaine, three cell phones, about $4,857 in cash and drug paraphernalia, and a search of a Plymouth Avenue stash house in Rochester recovered about 1.9 kilograms of cocaine, two firearms and about $84,685 in cash, officials said.

Searches the same day at Nelson's Irondequoit residence seized about 146 grams of suspected crack cocaine, about 3.677 kilograms of cocaine, about $8,209 in cash and a loaded shotgun, and searches at Stanley's Greece residence and an East Avenue stash house seized a loaded pistol, about 1.23 kilograms of cocaine and cash, officials said. In total, DEA Special Agent-in-Charge Farhana Islam said, the investigation seized almost 30 kilograms of cocaine, approximately $159,000 in cash and four firearms. All three defendants appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark W. Pedersen; Gaskin was detained, while Nelson and Stanley were released on conditions. The charges are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Sources: DEA New York Enforcement Division announcement, October 20, 2026; U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of New York, October 20, 2026.