Johnstown Man Pleads Guilty to Heroin and Fentanyl Charge

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Victor M. Diaz, age 29, of Johnstown, New York, pled guilty yesterday to possessing and intending to distribute more than 100 grams of heroin mixed with fentanyl.

The announcement was made by United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith; Special Agent in Charge Ray Donovan, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division; and City of Amsterdam Police Chief Gregory J. Culick.

On March 7, 2019, DEA agents and other law enforcement officers executed a federal warrant at Diaz’s Johnstown residence.  They found him home, alone, and sitting near a suitcase containing 1,740 small glassine bags.  The bags contained a total of approximately 89 grams of heroin mixed with fentanyl.  Law enforcement also found, in a plastic container, an additional 53.5 grams of heroin mixed with fentanyl.

Diaz faces at least 5 years and up to 40 years in prison, and a term of post-imprisonment supervised release of at least 4 years and up to life, when he is sentenced on October 4, 2019 by Senior United States District Judge Norman A. Mordue.  A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.

This case was investigated by the DEA and the Amsterdam Police Department, with assistance from the New York State Police and the Gloversville Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Barnett.