12-year sentence for cocaine trafficker caught with 30 kilograms of cocaine in his car
BUFFALO, N.Y. – Special Agent in Charge Ray Donovan, United States Drug Enforcement Administration, New York Division and U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Edgar Joel Jimenez-Rodriguez, 40, of North Tonawanda, New York, who was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, five kilograms or more of cocaine, was sentenced to serve 144 months in prison by Chief U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Adler, who handled 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, which the defendant had previously directed them to pick up from the New York City area for distribution locally.
Prior to that, in September 2017, the U.S. Postal Service intercepted packages containing approximately five kilograms of cocaine that had arrived from Puerto Rico and, though addressed to various residences in Niagara Falls, were ultimately destined to defendant and his co-conspirators.
Jose Garcia-Santiago was previously convicted and is awaiting sentencing. Charges remain pending against 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 sentencing is the result of an investigation by the DEA Buffalo Resident Office; the Niagara Falls Police Department; and the New York State Police Community Narcotics Enforcement Team.
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