Binghamton man picked up in Broome County task force sweep convicted on weapons charge

A Binghamton man picked up during a task force sweep last year has been found guilty on a weapons charge.

Following a trial this week in Broome County Court, the jury convicted 45-year-old Rondell Wright for second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, a felony.

On April 27, 2023, Wright was among several people rounded up on drug and weapons charges following a citywide operation by the Broome County Special Investigations Unit and Binghamton Police Community Response Team.

Wright was one of several people arrested when task force members conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle with stolen North Carolina license plates in the vicinity of Court and Washington streets in Binghamton.

Related SUNY Broome professor's book is shaping life skills course at county jail

Officers determined Wright was in possession of a loaded and operable .380-caliber handgun at the time.

Wright was also initially charged with third-degree criminal possession of a weapon and fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property, both felonies, and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a misdemeanor.

Wright is scheduled to return to court for sentencing on Aug. 8, and faces up to 15 years in state prison, followed by five years of post-release supervision.

"Illegal guns pose a direct threat to our communities," Broome County District Attorney Paul Battisti said in a statement after the verdict. "I am resolute in upholding the law and will relentlessly prosecute those who unlawfully possess firearms, disregard our guns laws, and jeopardize innocent lives here in Broome County."

Follow Jeff Murray on Twitter @SGJeffMurray. To get unlimited access to the latest news, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

This article originally appeared on Elmira Star-Gazette: Binghamton man convicted on weapons charge after 2023 task force sweep