Worcester Man Sentenced to More Than Six Years in Prison for Cocaine Distribution and Unlawful Possession of Firearms

BOSTON – A Worcester man has been sentenced in federal court in Springfield for drug and firearm offenses. 

Rodney Hall, 38, was sentenced on July 29, 2023 by U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni to 75 months in prison and four years of supervised release. On Feb. 2, 2023, Hall pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

    In September 2020, Hall was observed arriving in an SUV at a location in Worcester, exiting the SUV and entering the backseat of a Toyota Camry. The Camry then proceeded to drive around the block for approximately one minute and stopped at a corner where Hall exited the vehicle – an interaction consistent with conducting a drug deal. Hall was then approached by law enforcement and found to be in possession of $1,500 in cash. Approximately 27.9 grams of crack cocaine was obtained from the individual to whom Hall sold the cocaine.  During a subsequent search of Hall’s apartment, approximately 634 grams of crack cocaine, a loaded .25 caliber Beretta handgun, a homemade “ghost gun” pistol and ammunition, plastic baggies, $7,000 in cash and a digital scale were recovered. Hall is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to his criminal history, which includes previous convictions for possession of a large capacity weapon and trafficking cocaine.

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; and John E. Mawn, Jr., Interim Colonel of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John T. Mulcahy and Evan D. Panich of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. In May 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.