Bronx Man Sentenced for Distributing Crack Cocaine

ALBANY, NEW YORK – HECTOR MORALES, 36, of the Bronx, was sentenced today by the Honorable Gary L. Sharpe to thirty years in federal prison, announced United States Attorney Richard S. Hartunian and Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge James J. Hunt. Additionally, the judge imposed a term of twenty years of supervised release upon release from incarceration. MORALES has a prior drug felony conviction and, therefore, was subject to increased penalties.

In November 2011, a jury convicted MORALES of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute more than 280 grams of crack cocaine. At the trial, the government offered evidence that between January and September 2010, MORALES conspired with several individuals to sell large quantities of cocaine and crack in Troy and Plattsburgh. Two co-defendants, Nelson Cordero and Anthony Cordero, pled guilty prior to the trial, and were sentenced in 2012.

"The scourge of illegal drugs in our communities is intolerable," said United States Attorney Richard S. Hartunian. "Use of addictive drugs like crack cocaine is devastating. My office will work with our federal, state and local partners to continue our efforts to rid our streets of these substances."

The investigation of this case was the result of a joint investigation between the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Plattsburgh Police Department, the New York State Troopers and the Rensselaer Country Drug Task Force. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Daniel C. Gardner and Elizabeth R. Rabe.