SYRACUSE, NY – James Mack, 39, is facing a lengthy prison sentence after a federal jury convicted him Thursday of running a drug operation out of his car and illegally possessing a firearm. The verdict follows a four-day trial that laid bare Mack’s brazen criminal activity in the city.
According to evidence presented in court, Mack used a hidden compartment – a “trap” – inside the dashboard of his Honda Accord to stash narcotics. A search of the vehicle on February 12, 2020, by Syracuse Police Detectives uncovered over 400 grams of cocaine, more than 100 grams of crack cocaine, and a loaded .38 caliber revolver. The bust represents a significant blow to street-level drug distribution in the area.
The investigation was a joint effort between the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the Syracuse Police Department-Special Investigations Division (SPD-SID). Agents and detectives worked for months building the case against Mack, meticulously documenting his movements and connections.
Mack now faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison, with a potential life sentence hanging over his head. He also risks a fine of up to $8,000,000.00 and at least eight years of supervised release after serving his time. The final sentence will be determined by a judge considering federal sentencing guidelines and other relevant factors. The charges include possession with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
U.S. Attorney Carla B. Freedman highlighted the case as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program designed to reduce violent crime and gun violence by uniting law enforcement at all levels with local communities. The Department of Justice launched a renewed violent crime reduction strategy in May 2021, strengthening PSN with a focus on community trust, prevention, strategic enforcement, and measurable results.
Sentencing for James Mack is scheduled for March 16, 2023, in Utica, New York. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adrian LaRochelle and Jessica Carbone are prosecuting the case, signaling a continued federal commitment to cracking down on drug trafficking and gun violence in the Northern District of New York. This conviction sends a clear message: those who endanger our communities with drugs and firearms will be brought to justice.
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Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Weapons|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Press Release
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