Ernest Shaw, Sr., Cocaine Conspiracy, New York 2007

A jury in United States District Court in Syracuse has convicted Ernest Shaw, Sr., 56, of New Woodstock, New York, of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute in excess of five kilograms of cocaine and 28 grams of cocaine base (crack).

The conviction stems from a five-day jury trial that began earlier this week. According to the evidence presented, Ernest Shaw, Sr. conspired with others from September 2017 to September 25, 2019, to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base in the Syracuse area.

During the trial, jurors unanimously found that the defendant’s part in the conspiracy involved in excess of 5 kilograms of cocaine and 28 grams of cocaine base (crack). The trial evidence included the seizure of over 171 grams of powder cocaine and over 80 grams of crack cocaine from a stash house in Nedrow, New York used by Shaw to store drugs prior to distributing them to drug dealers and drug users in the Syracuse area.

Following the jury verdict, Ernest Shaw, Sr. agreed to the forfeiture of $36,335.00 in cash seized as drug proceeds by the DEA during the execution of a search warrant at his home in New Woodstock, New York on September 25, 2019. Shaw also agreed to a forfeiture money judgment in the amount of $105,000.00 for unrecovered proceeds he acquired during the conspiracy through the sale of cocaine and cocaine base (crack).

This is not the first time Ernest Shaw, Sr. has been convicted of a federal crime. He was previously convicted of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine in federal court in Syracuse in March 2007. He pled guilty and was sentenced to serve 41 months in federal prison in that case.

Ernest Shaw, Sr. faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a fine of up to $20,000,000.00, and a period of supervised release of at least 10 years and up to life. Sentencing is scheduled for February 3, 2022 in Syracuse, New York.

The investigation was led by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)-Syracuse Resident Office, which includes Task Force Officers from the City of Auburn Police Department, the City of Syracuse Police Department, the New York State Police, and the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office. Other agencies that assisted in the investigation include the New York State Police, the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office, Investigators from the Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Sutcliffe and Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Southwick.

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