New York City Men Plead Guilty To Drug Conspiracy And Gun Charges

PLATTSBURGH, NEW YORK – On August 5 and 6, 2015, Patrick Lloyd, 27, and Michael Spencer, 27, pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute controlled substances, as wells possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, announced United States Attorney Richard S. Hartunian and Homeland Security Investigations Resident Agent in Charge Russell Linstad.

"I commend the excellent work of the federal, state and local law enforcement agencies in dismantling this drug trafficking organization," said United States Attorney Richard S. Hartunian. "This case serves as a strong message that we will vigorously pursue and prosecute all those who endanger our neighborhoods though the distribution of illegal drugs and illegal firearm activity."

"This plea is the result of the collaboration between law enforcement agencies, which was instrumental in successfully dismantling a major violent narcotics smuggling organization in this area," said Russell Linstad, Resident Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). "HSI will continue to utilize its broad authorities to aggressively target and take down groups who are distributing narcotics and posing a threat in our communities."

"The Massena Police Department is extremely pleased with the resolution of these cases and would like to thank our state and local partners, Homeland Security Investigations Border Enforcement Security Task Force, and the United States Attorney’s Office for their hard work," said Senior Investigator Joseph Brown of the Massena Police Department.

As a result of their drug conspiracy convictions, Lloyd and Spencer respectively face 20 and 10 year mandatory minimum sentences of imprisonment, and up to life imprisonment. The firearms convictions carry mandatory minimum sentences of 5 years imprisonment and up to life, which must be imposed to run consecutively to the sentence on the drug conspiracy convictions. As a result, Lloyd faces a 25 year mandatory minimum sentence and Spencer faces a 15 year mandatory minimum sentence of imprisonment. Lloyd’s sentencing is scheduled for December 2, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. and Spencer’s sentencing is scheduled for December 14, 2015 at 1:30 p.m., both in United States District Court in Albany, New York.

The investigation resulted in the conviction of 13 members of this conspiracy and revealed that the organization utilized suppliers in New York City to obtain large quantities of cocaine, heroin, and crack for redistribution in the Massena, New York area. Couriers were used to transport drugs from New York City to Massena, where the organization’s distribution network sold ounce and gram quantities to drug users and other wholesale drug dealers.

Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Massena Police Department (MPD), the Saint Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department and the New York State Police (NYSP) led the investigation.

The District Attorneys of Clinton, Franklin and St. Lawrence Counties, the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Police Department, the United States Customs and Border Protection Office of Air and Marine, the United States Customs and Border Protection Office of Field Operations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the New York Attorney General’s Office, the Oneida Indian Nation Police and the Customs and Border Protection United States Border Patrol assisted in the investigation.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Kopita and Assistant U.S. Attorney Cyrus Rieck.