North Tonawanda man pleads guilty to drug charge after officers find 30 kilograms of cocaine in his car
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr., and DEA New York Division Special Agent in Charge Ray Donovan announced that Edgar Joel Jimenez-Rodriguez, 39, of North Tonawanda, N.Y., pleaded guilty before Chief U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr., to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, five kilograms or more of cocaine. The charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life, and a $10,000,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Patricia Astorga, who is handling the case, stated that between October 2017 and July 19, 2018, the defendant conspired with Jose Garcia-Santiago, Katherine Dejesus-Gonzalez, and others, to distribute cocaine. On July 19, 2018, the defendant picked up a Mercury Mariner containing 30 kilograms of cocaine, which was intended for distribution in the Western New York area. Law enforcement stopped the vehicle and arrested the defendant.
Previously, beginning in May 2018, investigators intercepted numerous conversations involving the defendant discussing cocaine trafficking and the associated proceeds. Many of those conversations were with co-conspirators Garcia-Santiago and DeJesus-Gonzalez, whom the defendant supervised. On May 26, 2018, law enforcement officers stopped a vehicle driven by Garcia-Santiago with DeJesus-Gonzalez as the passenger, and found five kilograms of cocaine. The defendant directed Garcia-Santiago and DeJesus-Gonzalez to pick up this cocaine from the New York City area for distribution locally.
In September 2017, the U.S. Postal Service intercepted packages arriving from Puerto Rico and addressed to various residences in Niagara Falls. Postal inspectors seized approximately five kilograms of cocaine that were intended for the defendant and his co-conspirators.
Charges remain pending against Jose Garcia-Santiago and Katherine Dejesus-Gonzalez. The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the DEA Buffalo Resident Office, New York Division, the Niagara Falls Police Department, and the New York State Police Community Narcotics Enforcement Team.
Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 15, 2019, at 9:30 a.m. before Judge Geraci.
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