Loudonville Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Cocaine Distribution Conspiracy

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Jesus Baez, age 32, of Loudonville, New York, was sentenced today to 5 years in prison for his role in a Capital Region cocaine distribution conspiracy.  United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Postal Inspector in Charge Ketty Larco-Ward made the announcement.

Baez previously pled guilty before Senior United States District Judge Gary L. Sharpe to conspiracy to distribute cocaine and possession with intent to distribute cocaine.  As part of his plea, Baez admitted that between June 2021 and December 2021, in Albany and Rensselaer Counties, he and three others engaged in a conspiracy to ship cocaine from Puerto Rico and distribute it in the Capital Region.  The cocaine was shipped via U.S. mail in one-kilogram bricks, and transported to a stash house maintained by Baez on Fifth Avenue in Troy, where it was processed for distribution, along with other drugs. 

Judge Sharpe also imposed a 4-year term of supervised release, to begin once Baez is released from prison.

Baez’s three co-defendants have also pled guilty for their roles in the conspiracy and are awaiting sentencing.  They are:

• Jan Lopez-Colon, age 28, of Troy;
• Ilvin Batista-Figueroa, 31, of Albany; and
• Sam Calderon, 20, of Troy.

This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) and the Capital Region Task Force, led by the USPIS and including the Albany Police Department, the Albany County Sheriff’s Office, and the Schenectady Police Department, as well as the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin S. Clark is prosecuting the case.