Buffalo Man Sentenced to Prison for Cocaine Trafficking
Buffalo, NY – A federal jury has convicted 22-year-old Alexis Javier Centeno-Baez of Buffalo, New York, of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, 500 grams or more of cocaine and attempt to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine.
The charges against Centeno-Baez carry a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of 40 years, and a $5,000,000 fine. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Wei Xiang and Brendan T. Cullinane are handling the case.
According to the prosecution, on August 24, 2015, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service intercepted a package shipped from Puerto Rico to an address in Buffalo. A search warrant was executed, and two individually wrapped kilograms of cocaine were found stuffed inside a LEGO box.
During a controlled delivery, Centeno Baez went to the address and retrieved the package. However, when Drug Enforcement Administration Agents approached to arrest him, he left the package in his car and fled on foot. Agents pursued Centeno Baez and apprehended him about three blocks away.
The conviction is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James J. Hunt, New York Field Division, and the United States Postal Service Inspection Service, under the direction of Inspector-in-Charge Shelly Binkowski.
Sentencing is scheduled for February 9, 2016, at 12:30 p.m. before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara, who presided over the trial of the case. Contact U.S. Attorney’s Office Public Information Officer Barbara Burns for more information: (716) 843-5817 or (716) 551-3051.
Related Federal Cases
- Alexis Javier Centeno-Baez, Cocaine Importation, Buffalo NY, 2015 · New York
- VICENTE ESTEVES Sentenced to 222 Months for Cocaine Trafficking, New York NY, 2023 · Puerto Rico
- Tyrone Pennick, Cocaine Conspiracy, New York 2024 · Puerto Rico
- Michael Damian Rivera-Melendez, Cocaine Receipt Attempt, New York 2023 · Puerto Rico
- Jerry Rolon-Alvarez, Heroin and Cocaine Possession, New York 2014 · Puerto Rico
Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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