BUFFALO — A 40-year-old Buffalo pleaded guilty on Thursday to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, punishable by a maximum of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Patricia Astorga who is handling the case, stated that on July 18, the United States Postal Inspection Service obtained a federal search warrant for a postal parcel that was addressed to 14 Warren Ave. in Buffalo that was mailed from Canovanas, Puerto Rico. The search revealed that the parcel contained approximately nine ounces of cocaine.
On July 20, an undercover U.S. Postal Inspector, acting as a U.S. Postal Service Mail Carrier, delivered the parcel which had been replaced with sham and an electronic transmitter that would alert agents to the opening of the parcel. The U.S. Postal Inspector was met by Ronnie Ortiz who signed for the parcel and took it into the residence. Minutes later, the electronic transmitter indicated the parcel had been opened. Agents went into the residence and arrested the defendant.
The plea is the culmination of an investigation by the United States Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Inspector in Charge Shelly Binkowski, and the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James J. Hunt, New York Field Division.
Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 10.
from US Dept. of Justice via IFTTT
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