Man whose prison sentence was commuted pleads guilty to new drug charge

Rochester, N.Y. – A Rochester man who had a previous prison sentence commuted has pleaded guilty to federal drug charges.

Ruben Bullock, 46, pleaded guilty to possessing with intent to distribute 500 grams or more cocaine, as well as violating federal supervised release.

Bullock had previously been convicted of a drug charge. He had been sentenced to more than 17 years in prison, however his sentence was commuted to time served in 2016 by former president Barack Obama, and he was placed on supervised release.

In January, probation searches were executed at residences Bullock used. At a location on Saranac Street in Rochester, prosecutors say about 750 grams of suspected cocaine, marijuana, about $8,000 in cash and drug paraphernalia were recovered. Bullock had more than $8,000 on his person at the time of his arrest, and he reportedly admitted to buying a kilogram of cocaine for $45,000 the day before the search.

Bullock faces 10 years to life in prison when he is sentenced in June.

In a statement, U.S. Attorney James Kennedy said, “It is disgraceful that someone, having been given a second chance at life by having his prior prison sentence commuted by the president of the United States, decided to squander such chance by returning to a life spent poisoning our community with drugs. I am particularly grateful to the men and women of the U.S. Probation Office for their outstanding work in realizing that Bullock was selling drugs and acting quickly and professionally to stop further sales.”