Jury Convicts Stephentown Man Of Possessing Cocaine, Heroin And Oxycodone With The Intent To Distribute

ALBANY, NEW YORK – On August 5, a jury found Joshua Stegemann, 38, of Stephentown, New York, guilty of (a) possessing cocaine, heroin, and oxycodone with the intent to distribute; (b) possessing two handguns in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; and (c) possessing three firearms and ammunition while being a felon, announced United States Attorney Richard S. Hartunian and James J. Hunt, Special Agent in Charge, New York Division, Drug Enforcement Administration.

United States Attorney Hartunian stated "This successful prosecution was brought about through the excellent cooperation of local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies working together to combat the trafficking of highly addictive drugs like cocaine, heroin and oxycodone. I commend these agencies for their tireless pursuit of those responsible for trafficking drugs on our streets."

The investigation was initiated by the Massachusetts State Police, who were subsequently joined by the Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the New York State Police. The evidence at trial showed that Stegemann, a long-time resident of Stephentown, New York, used his Stephentown residence and surrounding grounds as a base of operation for his drug trafficking business. On April 30, 2013, investigators executed a search warrant at Stegemann’s residence and surrounding grounds and recovered large amounts of cocaine, heroin, and oxycodone pills, along with two loaded handguns, a loaded shotgun, and over $296,000 in U.S. currency. Most of these items were found hidden either inside of the defendant’s residence or in various landscaping features on the defendant’s property such as rock gardens, a stump pile or buried next to pine trees. On May 3, 2013, investigators recovered a safe hidden by the defendant in a Pittsfield, Massachusetts residence. The safe was found to contain over $160,000 in U.S. currency. Cumulatively, investigators recovered over 600 grams of cocaine, over 30 grams of heroin, over 700 oxycodone pills, three firearms, dozens of rounds of ammunition, and over $450,000 in U.S. currency.

Joshua Stegemann will be sentenced on December 2, 2015 at 9:00 a.m. in federal court in Albany before Chief Judge Gary L. Sharpe. Stegemann faces at least 15 years in prison and up to a life term of imprisonment, followed by a term of at least eight years of supervised release, and a fine up to $8,000,000.00.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Richard Belliss and Kofi Sansculotte.