Bronx Dealer Gets 4 Years for PA Coke Run

⏱ 3 min read

Jose Baez Cabrera, a 35-year-old from the Bronx, is facing nearly four years in federal prison after authorities caught him moving eight kilos of cocaine into Pennsylvania last August. The bust went down on August 16, 2023, as Cabrera was allegedly prepping to supply Erie-area dealers. It wasn’t a first offense – Cabrera was on probation for a 2021 New York conviction involving a kilo of fentanyl.

Federal prosecutors laid out the case, showing Cabrera intended to push the coke through local networks. Judge Cathy Bissoon wasn’t buying any excuses, handing down a 46-month sentence. On top of the prison time, Cabrera faces three years of supervised release… assuming immigration doesn’t deport him first.

The Pennsylvania State Police and the DEA teamed up on the investigation, tracking Cabrera and intercepting the cocaine. Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig Haller led the charge, building a solid case against the repeat offender.

U.S. Attorney Troy Rivetti signaled the sentence should serve as a warning: move serious drugs into Western Pennsylvania, and you’ll catch a federal case. Apparently, Cabrera didn’t get the memo. His prior felony conviction clearly didn’t deter him.