Five arrested for protest-related crimes

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Five people have been arrested on federal charges involving arson and assault during protests on May 30 in Rochester and Buffalo.

In Rochester, four individuals have been charged for their roles in connection with the burning of three government vehicles and a private mobile construction trailer.

In Buffalo, a fifth person has been charged with assaulting a federal officer during a protest outside of the Robert H. Jackson Federal Courthouse on Niagara Square.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the individuals charged include:

• Dyshika McFadden, 26, and Miguel Ramos, 19, both of Rochester, charged with conspiracy to commit arson and arson, for their alleged role in burning a Rochester Police Department patrol car.
• Mackenzie Drechsler, 19, of Ontario, Wayne County, is charged with arson of a vehicle used in interstate commerce, for her alleged role in burning two vehicles, one belonging to the New York State Attorney General’s Office and another belonging to the city of Rochester Family Crisis Intervention Team (FACIT).
• Marquis Frasier, 27, of Rochester, also is charged with arson of a building vehicle and property, for his alleged role in using a Molotov cocktail to help burn down a mobile construction trailer.
• Keyondre Robinson, 18, of Buffalo, has been charged with assault of a federal officer, for his alleged role in throwing a bottle that struck a deputy United States Marshal in the face during protests outside of the federal courthouse in Buffalo.

If convicted, Mcfadden, Ramos, Dreschsler, and Frasier are facing a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and a maximum of 20 years, and a $250,000 fine.

Robinson is facing a maximum possible sentence of eight years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The protests were in response to the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.