ALBANY, NEW YORK – In a shocking turn of events, four men have been charged with conspiring to distribute cocaine in the Capital Region. Jan Lopez-Colon, a 28-year-old from Troy, New York, is among those accused of being involved in the massive cocaine trafficking operation.
According to the indictment, Lopez-Colon, along with Jesus Baez, Ilvin Batista-Figueroa, and Sam Calderon, engaged in a conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine between June 2021 and December 2021 in Albany and Rensselaer Counties.
The indictment alleges that the defendants obtained numerous packages shipped by U.S. Mail from Puerto Rico to addresses in the Capital Region, each containing approximately one kilogram of cocaine. The packages were then retrieved by the defendants and transported to Troy, where the cocaine was processed for distribution.
Lopez-Colon is charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine, possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, and various other charges. The charges in the indictment are merely accusations, and Lopez-Colon is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The potential sentence for Lopez-Colon’s charges carries a minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum sentence of life in prison, a fine of up to $10 million, and a term of supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life.
Lopez-Colon was arraigned this week before United States Magistrate Judge Christian F. Hummel and is currently detained pending trial before Senior United States District Judge Gary L. Sharpe.
This case is being investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) and its Capital Region Task Force, led by the USPIS 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.
In related news, Jesus Baez, Ilvin Batista-Figueroa, and Sam Calderon are also facing various charges in connection with the cocaine trafficking operation.
Related Federal Cases
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- Marlon G. Holt, Jr., Cocaine and Meth Distribution, New York 2024 · Puerto Rico
- John Doe, Cocaine Conspiracy, New York 2022 · Puerto Rico
- Ronnie Ortiz, Cocaine Trafficking Conspiracy, New York 2024 · Puerto Rico
- Juan Padua, Cocaine Conspiracy, New York 2023 · Puerto Rico
Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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