Rochester Man Pleads Guilty to Firearm Possession

The case stems from an incident on March 17, 2024, when Rochester police officers found Green asleep in the driver’s seat of a running vehicle on Seward Street.

A Rochester man has pleaded guilty to illegally possessing a firearm, a charge that could result in up to 15 years in prison.

Taraja Green, 28, entered the guilty plea before U.S. District Judge Meredith A. Vacca, admitting to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, according to an announcement from U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo. The charge carries a potential sentence of up to 15 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

The case stems from an incident on March 17, 2024, when Rochester police officers found Green asleep in the driver’s seat of a running vehicle on Seward Street. Officers approaching the vehicle reportedly observed a 9mm pistol on Green’s lap, later determining the firearm was loaded.

Authorities say Green had previously been convicted of a felony in August 2019 in Monroe County Court, making it illegal for him to possess a firearm.

The case is part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative, a national effort aimed at reducing violent crime by targeting repeat offenders and working with community-based prevention and reentry programs.

The investigation was conducted by the Rochester Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).

Green is scheduled to be sentenced on July 8, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. before Judge Vacca.