Rochester man Raul Matos, 45, admitted in federal court to peddling cocaine on three separate occasions between November 2017 and February 16, 2018. Matos stood before Chief U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr. and entered a guilty plea to charges of possession with intent to distribute and actual distribution of the controlled substance.
The deals went down with an individual working directly under the supervision of the Drug Enforcement Administration. Each exchange involved undisclosed quantities of cocaine, arranged in covert operations designed to dismantle street-level drug networks feeding addiction in urban neighborhoods across the city.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. McGrath, who is prosecuting the case, laid out the timeline of the controlled buys, emphasizing the calculated nature of the transactions and the defendant’s awareness of the illegal enterprise. “This wasn’t casual drug use,” McGrath stated. “This was trafficking—repeated, intentional sales of a dangerous narcotic.”
The investigation was spearheaded by the DEA’s New York Field Division, under the command of Special Agent-in-Charge Ray Donovan. Surveillance, informants, and recorded transactions formed the backbone of the evidence that ultimately forced Matos to confront the full weight of federal prosecution.
Now facing the consequences, Matos could be sentenced to up to 20 years in federal prison and fined as much as $1,000,000. The maximum penalty reflects the seriousness with which federal authorities treat repeat distribution offenses and the ongoing crisis of drug-related violence and overdose deaths in communities like Rochester.
Sentencing is scheduled for July 22, 2019, before Judge Geraci. U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. reiterated the government’s commitment to targeting drug suppliers, not just users. “We’re cutting off the supply chain,” Kennedy said. “One dealer at a time.”
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: Official Source ↗
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