FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT
DATE: MARCH 7, 2016
RE: PRESS RELEASE – FREDERICK
SMITH SENTENCE
On March 4th
Frederick Smith of Poughkeepsie, NY, was sentenced to 15 years in State Prison on
his conviction to Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree (a Class
C Violent Felony) after a two week trial that commenced on August 3rd,
2015.
The case stemmed
from events which occurred on January 25th, 2014, when at least 15 shots were
fired by a crowd of patrons who had just exited the “Home” night club located
at 3353 Rte. 9W in the Town of Lloyd. Multiple police agencies including the
Town of Lloyd Police, the Ulster County Sheriff’s Office, New York State Police
and others responded to the call for shots fired and found one man, wounded by
a gunshot, collapsed in the parking lot of the club. Frederick Smith, along
with co-defendant’s Tahmel Gordon, Jaquan Higgs and DiMetri Moseley, drove away
from the scene with Gordon driving. Police gave pursuit but the suspect vehicle
did not pull over even though followed by several police vehicles with
emergency lights and sirens activated. After approximately a mile, defendant’s
vehicle was stopped on SR 9W near Milton Avenue by a police barrier.
Police surrounded
the vehicle calling out commands for the defendants to show their hands and to
exit the vehicle. Defendants ignored these commands. Defendant, Frederick Smith
was seen throwing a loaded semi- automatic pistol out his door. Shortly after,
Gordon was seen pulling a 38 cal revolver from his waistband and was shot twice
by police.
Once stopped,
Frederick Smith got out of the vehicle and despite police ordering him not to
move, ran into the woods with several officers in pursuit. Smith was
apprehended and all defendants were arrested.
Gordon’s injuries
were not life threatening.
Smith is 25 years
old with an extensive criminal history. He was convicted of a violent felony
Assault in Dutchess County in 2012, and is currently serving a 7 year sentence
for a Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance, a class B felony, for selling
narcotics in the City of Poughkeepsie in 2013. Smith also has numerous
misdemeanor convictions.
The case was
prosecuted by Sr. Assistant District Attorney Clifford Owens. Smith was represented at trial by attorney
Bryan Rounds and he was represented at sentencing by attorney Paul Gruner.
