United States Drug Enforcement Administration

(SYRACUSE -   - Derrick Wilson, 36, of Syracuse, New York, was sentenced today to serve a 336 (28 years) term of imprisonment, followed by 10 years of supervised release.  The sentence was announced jointly by Special Agent in Charge James J. Hunt, New York Division, Drug Enforcement (DEA), United States Attorney Richard S. Hartunian, and Syracuse Police Chief Frank Fowler.

“There is only one way illegal drugs end up in the hands of addicts and that is through the hands of drug dealers,” said Hunt.  “Derrick Wilson was found guilty for his role in a heroin and crack cocaine conspiracy earlier this year and today’s sentencing is compensatory to the crimes committed.”
 
“The sentence imposed today sends a clear message to those who traffick in illegal drugs-especially heroin, in the midst of this region’s opioid drug epidemic, that we will vigorously enforce the law and seek tough sentences for those who would profit from the misery of others,” said Hartunian.   

“We will continue to work hard, utilizing every resource available, with the goal of stopping the heroin trade that has plagued our communities,” added Fowler.  “We have all seen first-hand what this terrible drug does, and hope that this case and lengthy prison sentence will make others think twice before getting involved.”

Wilson was convicted following a week-long trial in January 2016 during which he represented himself with an assigned attorney present to advise him on legal matters.  The evidence at trial, some of which was obtained through court ordered wiretaps, showed that Wilson supervised the distribution of crack cocaine and heroin by other members of the conspiracy, whom he directed and employed. At trial it was established that Wilson made arrangements for heroin and cocaine powder from New York City to be transferred to him in Syracuse, where he ordered members of the conspiracy to process the cocaine powder into crack cocaine and package it for sale. Other members of the conspiracy acting at Wilson’s direction also packaged some of the heroin into uniquely marked plastic bags for “branding” purposes and distribution.  

Wilson was the last of 13 defendants to be convicted of participating in a conspiracy to distribute heroin and crack cocaine in the Syracuse area from April 2013 to June 2014.  Wilson’s co-defendants all pled guilty and were sentenced as follows:

This case was investigated by the DEA and the Syracuse Police Department, with assistance from the Federal Bureau of (FBI) and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carla Freedman and Nicolas Commandeur.