Rotterdam Man Sentenced to Over Two Years in Prison for Possessing Shotgun as Convicted Felon

A Rotterdam man has been sentenced to more than two years in federal prison after admitting to illegally possessing a shotgun in violation of federal law due to his prior felony convictions.

Jesse Taber, 46, was sentenced Monday to 27 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino. His sentence also includes a three-year term of supervised release following his incarceration.

Taber had previously pleaded guilty to possessing a 12-gauge Stoeger Coach Gun on December 26, 2023, at his residence. As part of his plea, he acknowledged having three prior felony convictions in New York, which prohibit him from legally owning or possessing firearms.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), with assistance from the Rotterdam Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rick Belliss handled the prosecution.

The case falls under the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative, which targets violent crime through coordinated enforcement and community partnerships. More information about the program can be found at justice.gov/psn.