Jose Morales, Fentanyl Conspiracy and Distribution, New York 2023

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A 31-year-old Utica man has admitted to his role in a fentanyl trafficking organization that distributed over 400 grams of the deadly opioid in the Utica area.

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Jose Morales, 31, of Utica, New York, pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute fentanyl and distribution and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, announced United States Attorney Carla Freedman.

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According to court documents, Morales acquired quantities of fentanyl from co-conspirators between May 2020 and October 2021, which he then re-distributed to others in the Utica area.

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Morales faces a minimum of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life imprisonment, a fine of up to $10 million, and a term of supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life.

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Sentencing is scheduled for December 7, 2023, in front of United States District Judge David N. Hurd.

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The case is being investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO), the New York State Police (NYSP), the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office, the Oneida County District Attorney’s Office, the Utica Police Department, the Syracuse Police Department, the Rome Police Department, the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office, the Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office, the New York Army National Guard Counter Drug Program, the Yorkville Police Department, and the Whitesboro Police Department.

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The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tamara Thomson.

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The guilty plea is a significant blow to the fentanyl trafficking organization, which has been responsible for distributing countless grams of the deadly opioid in the Utica area.

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The investigation and prosecution of this case demonstrate the commitment of law enforcement agencies to combating the opioid epidemic and bringing those responsible to justice.

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Morales is currently being held in custody pending sentencing.

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The case is a reminder of the devastating impact of fentanyl and the importance of continued efforts to combat its distribution and use.

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