Jean Carlos Rivera-Perez, Heroin Trafficking Conspiracy, New York 2019

ALBANY, NEW YORK – In a stunning blow to the city’s underground heroin trade, nine individuals have been charged with operating a massive heroin distribution ring in Schenectady, New York.

The defendants, who were arrested over the course of several months, are accused of conspiring to possess and distribute heroin in Schenectady between 2017 and December 2018. According to court documents, the group is alleged to have distributed over a kilogram of heroin during this time period.

The charges were announced by United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith; Kevin M. Kelly, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); and New York State Police Acting Superintendent Keith M. Corlett.

The defendants, all of whom are charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute heroin, are:

Jean Carlos Rivera-Perez, aka “Tego,” age 44, of Bronx, New York;

Esteban Ressy, aka “The Boss,” age 43, of Schenectady and Puerto Rico;

Leamzy Soto Calderon, aka “Lee,” aka “Gordo,” age 28, of Schenectady;

Linette Marie Soto, age 24, of Schenectady;

Kristen Jansen, age 27, of Schenectady;

Jose Cortes-Cruz, aka “Bimbo,” age 28, of Schenectady;

Gregory Insogna, age 45, of Amsterdam, New York;

Patrick McNamara, age 47, of Amsterdam.

Ressy, who was arrested in Puerto Rico on January 8, 2019, faces at least 15 years and up to life in prison, and a maximum fine of $20 million.

Rivera-Perez, Calderon, and Soto each face at least 10 years and up to life in prison, and a maximum fine of $10 million.

Jansen and Insogna each face at least 5 years and up to 40 years in prison, and a maximum fine of $5 million.

Cortes-Cruz and McNamara each face up to 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $1 million.

In executing search warrants in Schenectady and the Bronx, law enforcement seized hundreds of grams of heroin, cash, and heroin-processing materials.

This case is being investigated by HSI, the New York State Police, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the Amsterdam Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cyrus P.W. Rieck.

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