FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2009
WWW.USDOJ.GOV/USAO/MA
CONTACT: CHRISTINA DiIORIO-STERLING
PHONE: (617)748-3356
E-MAIL: USAMA.MEDIA@USDOJ.GOV
WORCESTER MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO COCAINE CONSPIRACY
BOSTON, MA - A Worcester man was convicted today in federal court of conspiring to distribute over 500 grams of cocaine and related charges.
Acting United States Attorney Michael K. Loucks and Steven Derr, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration - Boston Field Office, announced today that JEAN COLON, age 29, of Worcester, pled guilty before U.S. District Judge F. Dennis Saylor, IV to conspiracy to distribute over 500 grams of cocaine, possession with intent to distribute over 500 grams of cocaine and the distribution of cocaine.
At today’s plea hearing, the prosecutor told the Court that had the case proceeded to trial the Government’s evidence would have proven that before September 14, 2007, COLON arranged to sell an ounce of cocaine to a witness assisting federal agents in the investigation of drugs in Worcester, and that pursuant to such arrangement brought the witness to a co-defendant who delivered an ounce for $950. According to the prosecutor, thereafter, COLON arranged with the witness to sell five kilograms of cocaine, in installments of three kilograms and two kilograms, for approximately $140,000. On October 10, 2007, COLON met with the witness and an undercover police officer posing as a drug buyer. COLON directed an accomplice to bring the witness to the cocaine, with the understanding that the witness would inspect the cocaine and then authorize the undercover agent to release payment for the drugs. The witness was brought to 33 Coral Street, and reported to the undercover officer that there were three kilograms of cocaine at an apartment at that address. The undercover officer then directed agents to secure the apartment. Agents obtained a search warrant for the apartment and recovered the three kilograms of cocaine and nearly $60,000 in cash from a safe. COLON was charged with three other accomplices in the indictment.
Judge Saylor scheduled sentencing for January 5, 2010. COLON faces up to life imprisonment, 5 years of supervised release and a $ 4 million fine.
The case was investigated by the DEA’s High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force, with assistance from the Worcester Police Department and the Massachusetts State Police. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David Hennessy of Loucks’ Worcester Branch Office.
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