CONTACT: Barbara Burns

PHONE: (716) 843-5817

FAX #: (716) 551-3051

ROCHESTER, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Felix Figueroa, 40, of Rochester, NY, who was convicted of possession with the intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, was sentenced to serve 96 months in prison by Chief U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Cassie Kocher, who handled the case, stated that during the course of a lengthy investigation, the defendant sold cocaine and heroin on several occasions to an individual working with investigators. On January 29, 2018, investigators executed a search warrant at Figueroa’s home, and recovered a quantity of fentanyl and cocaine, 199 bags of heroin, 154 decks of heroin, 576 bags of cocaine, as well as items commonly used in the packaging and distribution of illegal drugs, such as a scale, baggies, cutting agent, and approximately $2,108 in cash.

The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Violent Crime Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge John B. Devito, New York Field Division; the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief La’Ron Singletary; the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Todd Baxter; the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office, under the direction of District Attorney Sandra Doorley; the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Gary Loeffert; the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Ray Donovan, New York Field Division; the Greece Police Department, under the direction of Chief Patrick Phelan; the Brighton Police Department, under the direction of Chief David Catholdi; and U.S. Border Patrol, under the direction of Patrol Agent-in-Charge Luis R. Tafoya.

# # # #

CONTACT: Barbara Burns

PHONE: (716) 843-5817

FAX #: (716) 551-3051

ROCHESTER, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Felix Figueroa, 39, of Rochester, NY, pleaded guilty to possession with the intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, before Chief U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr. The charge carries a minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum penalty of 40 years, and a $5,000,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Cassie Kocher, who is handling the case, stated that during the course of a lengthy investigation, the defendant sold cocaine and heroin on several occasions to an individual working with investigators. On January 29, 2018, investigators executed a search warrant at Figueroa’s home, and recovered a quantity of fentanyl and cocaine, 199 bags of heroin, 154 decks of heroin, 576 bags of cocaine, as well as items commonly used in the packaging and distribution of illegal drugs, such as a scale, baggies, cutting agent, and approximately $2,108 in cash.

The plea is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Violent Crime Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge John B. Devito, New York Field Division; the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief La’Ron Singletary; the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Todd Baxter; the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office, under the direction of District Attorney Sandra Doorley; the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Gary Loeffert; the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Ray Donovan, New York Field Division; the Greece Police Department, under the direction of Chief Patrick Phelan; the Brighton Police Department, under the direction of Chief David Catholdi; and U.S. Border Patrol, under the direction of Patrol Agent-in-Charge Luis R. Tafoya.

Sentencing is scheduled for January 17, 2020, at 3:00 p.m. before Judge Geraci.

# # # #

CONTACT:      Barbara Burns

PHONE:         (716) 843-5817

FAX:            (716) 551-3051

ROCHESTER, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Leitscha Poncedeleon, 28, of Rochester, NY, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, five kilograms or more of cocaine, before Chief U.S.  District Judge Frank P. Geraci. The charge carries a minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life, and a $10,000,000 fine. In addition, co-defendant Orlando Yelder, 36, also of Rochester, pleaded guilty possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, 500 grams or more of cocaine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. Those charges carry a minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of 40 years, and a $5,000,000 fine.  

Assistant U.S. Attorney Katelyn M. Hartford, who is handling the case, stated that between April 2017 and January 29, 2018, the defendants conspired with Carlos Javier Figueroa, Roberto Figueroa, Felix Figueroa, Obed Torres, Jonathan Cruz Carmona, Freddie Silva, and others, to distribute cocaine.

In furtherance of the conspiracy, on numerous occasions Poncedeleon communicated via telephone with Freddie Silva and other individuals in Puerto Rico to coordinate the shipment of cocaine from Puerto Rico to Rochester, via the United States Postal Service. Between September 9, 2017, and January 29, 2018, Poncedeleon and other conspirators coordinated at least 25 shipments of cocaine, each containing approximately two kilograms of cocaine. Poncedeleon and others sent money via the United States Postal Service and wire transfers from Rochester to Puerto Rico as payment for the cocaine. Poncedeleon also arranged for individuals in the Rochester area to receive the packages of cocaine. Once the packages arrived in Rochester, the individuals would contact Poncedeleon who would then notify co-conspirator Carlos Javier Figueroa.

Poncedeleon, Carlos Javier Figueroa, Roberto Figueroa, and others, maintained a residence located at 292 Barrington Street in Rochester for the purposes of storing, manufacturing, processing, and distributing cocaine. At that location, Poncedeleon, Carlos Javier Figueroa, Roberto Figueroa, and others regularly prepared and packaged cocaine for distribution. On January 29, 2018, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at the residence and recovered approximately three kilograms of cocaine, $230,060 in cash, eight firearms, and numerous rounds of ammunition.

The plea is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Violent Crime Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Ashan Benedict, New York Field Division; the Rochester Police Department, Special Investigations, under the direction of Chief Michael Ciminelli; the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Todd Baxter; the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office, under the direction of District Attorney Sandra Doorley; the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Gary Loeffert; the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge James J. Hunt, New York Field Division; the Greece Police Department, under the direction of Chief Patrick Phelan; the Brighton Police Department, under the direction of Chief Mark Henderson; and U.S. Border Patrol, under the direction of Patrol Agent-in-Charge Gregory Johnson.

Sentencing for Poncedeleon is scheduled for November 8, 2018, at 3:30 p.m. before Judge Geraci. Sentencing for Yelder is scheduled for October 19, 2018, at 11:00 a.m., also before Judge Geraci.

CONTACT:      Barbara Burns

PHONE:         (716) 843-5817

FAX:            (716) 551-3051

BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Carlos Javier Figueroa, a/k/a/ Javi, a/k/a Big Bro, 39, Roberto Figueroa, 42, Leitscha Poncedeleon, 28, and Orlando Yelder, 36, Jose Justiniano-Rodriguez, 18, Jashua Figueroa, 19,  and Obed Torres, 21, all of Rochester, were arrested and charged by criminal complaint with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, possession with intent to distribute and distribution of five kilograms or more of cocaine, use of a telephone to facilitate drug trafficking and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison and a maximum of life. In addition, Felix Figueroa was arrested and charged in a separate complaint with distribution of cocaine and conspiracy to distribute cocaine, which is punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Katelyn Hartford, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, Carlos Javier Figueroa is the leader of a Rochester-based drug trafficking organization responsible for distributing numerous kilograms of cocaine in the City of Rochester. The organization was involved in the transportation and sale of cocaine and was also responsible for acts of violence in furtherance of the organization’s drug trade. Various locations throughout Rochester were utilized to receive, store, and sell the supply of illegal narcotics. Carlos Javier Figueroa and his co-conspirators coordinated shipments of cocaine from Puerto Rico, which were sent to locations in Rochester via the United States Postal Service (USPS).

Since September 2017, at least 23 packages have been sent from Puerto Rico to addresses associated with the organization via USPS. Once the packages arrived in Rochester, members of the organization, including Carlos Javier Figueroa, Roberto Figueroa, and Poncedeleon, picked up the packages and took them to another location. The cocaine was then distributed or broken down and packaged for sale in quantities to be further distributed by others. 

In April 2017, members of the Rochester Police Department’s Major Crimes Unit and Special Investigations Section received information from an active member of the organization stating that the individual feared for his/her safety. The individual told investigators that Carlos Javier Figueroa was willing to provide a reward for his/her murder and that Carlos Javier Figueroa has had people killed in the past and he/she was very afraid of him. 

In December 2017, the Rochester Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives began utilizing court authorized wiretaps and surveilling the area of 6 and 12 Burbank Street in Rochester, believed to be Carlos Javier Figueroa’s residence; 292 Barrington Street in Rochester, believed to be Roberto Figueroa and Poncedeleon’s residence and a stash house where shipments of cocaine are stored; 59 Fernwood Avenue in Rochester, a residence belonging to Carlos Javier Figueroa and the address where at least two packages of suspected cocaine were shipped to from Puerto Rico; and 820 East Main Street in Rochester.

On January 29, 2018, during the execution of state search warrants, law enforcement officers seized more than $600,000 in cash, six assault rifles, two loaded handguns, over three kilograms of cocaine, and a quantity of suspected heroin and fentanyl.   

The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Violent Crime Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Ashan Benedict, New York Field Division; the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief Michael Ciminelli; the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Todd Baxter; the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office, under the direction of District Attorney Sandra Doorley; the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Adam S. Cohen; the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge James J. Hunt, New York Field Division; the Greece Police Department, under the direction of Chief Patrick Phelan; the Brighton Police Department, under the direction of Chief Mark Henderson; and U.S. Border Patrol, under the direction of Patrol Agent-in-Charge Gregory Johnson.

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.