Bronx Dealer Caged in Erie Coke Run

⏱ 2 min read

Jose Baez Cabrera, a 35-year-old from the Bronx, is doing nearly four years in a federal penitentiary after state troopers and feds busted him hauling eight kilos of cocaine into Erie, Pennsylvania last August. Cabrera was caught red-handed, with the stash hidden in his vehicle, while delivering to local dealers. The bust went down August 16th, 2023.

Federal Judge Cathy Bissoon handed Cabrera a 46-month sentence today. The feds aren’t letting him off easy – on top of the prison time, he’s facing three years of supervised release…assuming immigration officials don’t cut that short with a deportation order. Cabrera’s already got a record; he was on probation in New York for a 2021 conviction involving a kilo of fentanyl.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig Haller prosecuted the case. U.S. Attorney Troy Rivetti gave a nod to the Pennsylvania State Police and the Drug Enforcement Administration for building the case that landed Cabrera behind bars. This wasn’t a first-time offense, and the feds clearly weren’t buying any sob stories.

Cabrera’s history of dealing, combined with the significant amount of cocaine, sealed his fate. Erie, like many cities, continues to grapple with the influx of narcotics, and federal authorities are sending a clear message: bring the poison, face the consequences.