Manhattan Man Pleads Guilty to Cocaine Conspiracy

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Manuel Clemente, age 62, of Manhattan, New York, pled guilty today to conspiring to distribute cocaine.

The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith and Vadim D. Thomas, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

As part of his plea, Clemente admitted that he worked with others to distribute cocaine in New York City and Schenectady, New York.  Clemente also admitted that when he was arrested on May 30, 2017 in Manhattan, he was providing approximately $12,000 to a conspirator in exchange for approximately 190 grams of cocaine.

Clemente’s prosecution is part of a takedown of a Capital Region drug trafficking ring that led to charges against 12 other defendants, all of which remain pending.

Clemente faces up to 20 years in prison, a maximum $1 million fine, and a term of post-imprisonment supervised release of at least 3 years and up to life when he is sentenced by United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino on February 22, 2018 .  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 being investigated by the FBI and its Capital District Safe Streets Gang Task Force, which includes FBI Special Agents and members of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, including the Schenectady Police Department, Schenectady County District Attorney’s Office, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Albany County Sheriff’s Office, New York State Police, and the New York Department of Corrections and Community Supervision.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Barnett.