Albany Man Pleads Guilty in Cocaine Conspiracy

A 32-year-old Albany man has pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute cocaine in the Capital Region.

Ilvin Figueroa Batista, 32, of Albany, admitted to conspiring with others to receive cocaine shipped from Puerto Rico between June 2021 and December 2021. He claimed that his role in the conspiracy was to receive cocaine from Puerto Rico shipped via U.S. mail and turn it over to other members of the conspiracy, who processed the cocaine and sold it.

Batista’s guilty plea comes after three co-conspirators previously pled guilty for their roles in the conspiracy, which involved the receipt and distribution of more than 5 kilograms of cocaine in the Capital Region. The co-conspirators include:

Jan Lopez-Colon, 28, of Troy, New York;

Jesus Baez, 32, of Loudonville, New York; and

Sam Calderon, 20, of Troy.

Batista faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $1 million, and a term of supervised release of at least 3 years and up to life. He also agreed to forfeit $2,300 in cash seized when he was arrested.

Sentencing is scheduled for August 14, 2023, in front of Senior United States District Judge Gary L. Sharpe.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and its Capital Region Task Force, led by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and including the Albany Police Department, the Albany County Sheriff’s Office, and the Schenectady Police Department, as well as the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin S. Clark is prosecuting the case.

MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS

Drug Trafficking

Gregory A. Voltz, Jr., Cocaine Distribution, West Virginia 2023

Jun 18, 2019

Drug Trafficking

Cameron Felder, Nathaniel Thomas, Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine, Iowa 2019

Jul 25, 2019

Drug Trafficking

Nine Alleged Gun, Drug Traffickers Charged in Fort Worth, Texas 2023

Sep 22, 2023

Drug Trafficking

Albert Ross, Cocaine Trafficking, Georgia 2024

Jun 10, 2024