Raymond Collazo Sentenced in Rochester Drug Empire Case

Raymond Collazo, a Rochester man tied to a violent street-level drug operation flooding the city with heroin and crack cocaine, was sentenced to 130 months in federal prison after a high-stakes takedown that exposed the inner workings of a local narcotics network. U.S. District Court Judge Charles J. Siragusa handed down the sentence following Collazo’s conviction on charges of possession with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert A. Marangola, Collazo ran a tightly organized drug ring out of multiple Rochester locations, including 617 Ridgeway Avenue, where narcotics were processed, packaged, and distributed in bulk. He operated alongside co-defendant Luis Abril, who was sentenced in February 2015 to 120 months in prison after pleading guilty to related charges. The duo armed themselves while conducting daily drug operations, escalating the danger to the surrounding community.

The operation unraveled on April 24, 2014, when law enforcement executed a coordinated series of search warrants across Rochester and at Collazo’s secondary residence in Orlando, Florida. At 617 Ridgeway Avenue, officers found over 12 grams of cocaine packaged for street sale, 200 grams of heroin, three loaded handguns—one confirmed stolen—dozens of rounds of ammunition, $2,466 in U.S. currency, and a full arsenal of drug packaging paraphernalia, including scales and baggies.

Collazo’s empire thrived on distribution at the neighborhood level, pushing highly addictive substances into some of Rochester’s most vulnerable areas. Authorities say the volume and consistency of supply pointed to a well-financed, ongoing criminal enterprise with multiple layers of operational security. The presence of firearms confirmed the violent potential underpinning the drug trade.

The case was the product of a sweeping investigation led by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force, with critical support from the Rochester Police Department under Chief Michael Ciminelli, FBI Special Agent-in-Charge Adam S. Cohen, ATF Special Agent-in-Charge Ashan Benedict, DEA Special Agent-in-Charge James J. Hunt, and the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office led by Sandra Doorley. Federal prosecutors emphasized the importance of interagency coordination in dismantling entrenched drug networks.

Acting U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to targeting drug traffickers who arm themselves and endanger public safety. ‘This sentence sends a clear message,’ Kennedy said. ‘When you deal drugs and pack a gun, you’re not just breaking the law—you’re signing up for hard time. We’re taking these criminals off the streets and keeping Rochester safer.’

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