Jury Convicts Arizona Man of Drug Trafficking and Money Laundering Conspiracies

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Alonzo Harris, age 43, of Youngtown, Arizona, was convicted today of drug trafficking and money laundering charges following a four-day jury trial, announced United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge James J. Hunt of the New York Division, U.S. Postal Inspector in Charge Joseph Cronin, and New York State Police Superintendent George P. Beach II.

The evidence at trial proved that Harris used the U.S. Postal Service to mail more than 50 multi-pound packages of methamphetamine from the Phoenix, Arizona, area to Broome County New York, where members of his drug trafficking organization distributed it to local dealers and users.  The trial evidence also established that Harris, along with his co-conspirators, generated hundreds of thousands of dollars in proceeds from the sale of methamphetamine.

The conviction in this case was the result of a multi-agency investigation, Operation Hailstorm, which resulted in charges against 10 individuals involved in the illegal methamphetamine trafficking activity.  The other nine defendants all previously pled guilty.

Sentencing for Harris is scheduled for February 6, 2019 in Syracuse before Chief United States District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby.  At sentencing, Harris faces a mandatory term of 10 years and up to life in prison.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), the United States Postal Inspection Service, the New York State Police, the Broome County Special Investigations Unit Task Force, and the Vestal Police Department, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicolas Commandeur and Michael Gadarian.