Jury Convicts Two Men of North Country Crack Cocaine Conspiracy

ALBANY, NEW YORK - A jury on Friday voted to convict Gary Dickens, age 29, of Brasher Falls, New York, and Richard Cruz, age 36, of the Bronx, New York, of conspiracy to traffic cocaine base (crack cocaine) in the Massena, New York, area. 

The announcement was made by United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith and Kevin M. Kelly, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations.

The evidence presented at the 5-day trial demonstrated that between January 2017 and September 4, 2017, Cruz supplied Dickens with crack cocaine on a regular basis.  Dickens picked up the crack cocaine himself and transported it to Massena or employed couriers, including Andre Murray and Emely Rosario, to transport the cocaine to Massena.  Dickens then distributed the drugs throughout the greater Massena area.  Carri Poliski and Tammy Phillips drove Dickens around the Massena area to help him distribute the drugs.  Dickens also directed the wiring of money via Western Union to Cruz in order to purchase more crack cocaine.

The jury found Dickens not guilty of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

The following people have pled guilty or been convicted at trial of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and to distribute cocaine base, before United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino:

Dickens faces at least 5 years and up to 40 years in prison, a fine of up to $5 million, and a term of post-imprisonment supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life.  Cruz faces at least 10 years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $8 million, and a supervised release term of at least 8 years and up to life.  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 is the result of the close cooperative efforts of HSI, led by the Massena Resident Office, in conjunction with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Border Patrol, New York State Police, St. Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office, Massena Police Department, Potsdam Police Department, and Ogdensburg Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elizabeth Rabe and Katherine Kopita.