MONTICELLO, NY — A Monticello man has been federally charged with murder in connection to a 2017 killing tied to a large-scale marijuana trafficking conspiracy, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.
Dwayne Johnson, 46, was indicted by a federal grand jury and arraigned on June 11. He is accused of murdering 31-year-old Shaniece Harris, of Rock Hill, on or about May 29, 2017, as part of a criminal operation to distribute more than 1,000 kilograms of marijuana throughout New York and beyond.
Authorities allege that Johnson shot and killed Harris in Monticello in furtherance of the drug conspiracy. The case stems from a joint investigation involving the FBI’s Hudson Valley Safe Streets Task Force, Hudson Valley White Collar Crime Task Force, New York State Police, NYPD, and Sullivan County District Attorney’s Office.
During searches in 2023, investigators recovered videos where Johnson showed off his arsenal of firearms and expressed his willingness to shoot anyone who tried to steal his drugs or profits. A May 2023 raid on Johnson’s home yielded:
30 firearms, including short-barreled rifles
Body armor
A large quantity of ammunition
Marijuana packaged for distribution
Johnson is facing multiple federal charges:
Murder through use of a firearm
Conspiracy to distribute more than 1,000 kg of marijuana
Possession with intent to distribute marijuana
Possession of a short-barreled rifle in furtherance of a drug crime
Unlawful possession of firearms
If convicted on the murder charge, Johnson faces a maximum sentence of death or life in prison.
“This brutal murder shows the harsh truth that drug trafficking and violence go together,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “We hope this prosecution brings some measure of peace to the victim’s loved ones.”
The name of Johnson’s attorney has not been released.
