Robert J. Chaires, Crack Cocaine Distribution, New York 2017

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Robert J. Chaires, 40, of Schenectady, is staring down a lengthy prison sentence after admitting to peddling crack cocaine on the streets of the Capital Region. The Schenectady man pled guilty today to two counts of distributing the highly addictive drug in 2017, bringing him one step closer to facing the consequences of his actions.

Federal prosecutors detailed how Chaires sold more than 28 grams of cocaine base – commonly known as crack cocaine – to an undercover buyer on January 20, 2017. He didn’t learn his lesson. Just over a month later, on March 2, 2017, Chaires repeated the offense, again pushing the dangerous drug onto Schenectady’s streets. The transactions were hardly victimless; crack cocaine tears families apart and fuels a cycle of addiction and violence.

The announcement of Chaires’ guilty plea came from United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith and Thomas F. Relford, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The feds have been relentless in their pursuit of those who profit from misery, and this case is another example of that commitment.

Chaires now faces a grim future. He’s looking at a minimum of 10 years in federal prison, but the potential for a life sentence looms large. Senior United States District Judge Frederick J. Scullin, Jr. will determine his fate on December 8, 2020, taking into account federal sentencing guidelines and the severity of the crimes.

The investigation was a collaborative effort led by the FBI and its Capital District Safe Streets Gang Task Force, a multi-agency team that includes FBI Special Agents and officers from the Schenectady Police Department, as well as other federal, state, and local law enforcement partners. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Barnett is prosecuting the case, ensuring that Chaires is held accountable for his actions.

This isn’t just about taking one dealer off the streets; it’s about disrupting the flow of poison into our communities. While one conviction won’t solve the problem of drug trafficking, it sends a clear message: dealing crack cocaine carries severe consequences. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the sentencing of Robert J. Chaires.

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