Meth Kingpin Mingues Hit with 10-Year Min Sentence

Rasheed Mingues, a 44-year-old New York City man living in the Utica area, has been convicted of selling over 100 grams of methamphetamine and nearly 30 grams of fentanyl in the local community.

According to the DOJ, Mingues admitted to peddling the illicit substances between April and October 2022, with a heinous haul of over 700 grams of fentanyl, 700 grams of methamphetamine, and 100 grams of cocaine found on his person in December 2022.

Mingues also admitted to possessing a loaded 9mm handgun in the same bag as the drugs, which is a serious offense considering his prior felony conviction, making him ineligible to own a firearm under federal law.

The DEA and New York State Police, along with the Utica Police Department, Syracuse Police Department, Oneida County Sheriff’s Office, and the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), worked together to crack the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica N. Carbone and Benjamin Gillis are prosecuting the case, with sentencing set for August 23, 2024, in Syracuse.

Mingues faces a mandatory minimum prison sentence of 10 years, with a maximum sentence of life, and a whopping fine of up to $10,000,000. Additionally, he will be under a term of supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life.

The sentencing will be carried out by a judge based on the specific charges Mingues has been convicted of, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other relevant factors.

The investigation has brought a sense of relief to the community, where the scourge of methamphetamine and fentanyl has been a major concern.

This conviction serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of drug trafficking and the importance of law enforcement agencies working together to bring perpetrators to justice.