Maryland Drug Dealer Sentenced to More Than 15 Years for Heroin Distribution Conspiracy

PLATTSBURGH, NEW YORK – Jimolo Coates, a.k.a. “Lo,” Marlo,” “Brodie,” age 25, of Annapolis, Maryland, was sentenced today to 188 months in prison, to be followed by 8 years of supervised release, for conspiring to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute heroin.

The announcement was made by United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith; Special Agent in Charge James J. Hunt, New York Division, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); and Clinton County Sheriff David Favro.

In pleading guilty, Coates admitted to regularly selling 40 grams of heroin to Melissa Kusalonis in Annapolis for $4,000.  Kusalonis then transported the heroin to Plattsburgh, New York, and sold it in personal-use quantities.  Initially, and beginning in June 2016, Coates sold the heroin directly to Kusalonis.  Following his arrest and detention on Maryland state charges in early September 2016, Coates directed two couriers, Tynaejah Thompson and Kiara Scott, to provide the heroin to and collect payment from Kusalonis.  Coates also admitted to selling distribution-quantities of heroin to Charles Adams, who frequently transported heroin from Annapolis to Plattsburgh with Kusalonis, following Coates’s release from pretrial detention in Maryland in early March 2017. 

Coates was charged along with nine other people in two related indictments relating to a heroin distribution ring that transported heroin from Annapolis and Schenectady, New York, and sold it in the Plattsburgh area.  In addition to Coates, the following eight defendants have pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute heroin:

• Kyle Touchstone, age 30, of Plattsburgh;
• Melissa Kusalonis, a.k.a. “Mel,” “Liss,” age 36, of Plattsburgh;
• Tynaejah Thompson, a.k.a. “Naee,” age 20, of Annapolis, Maryland;
• Kiara Scott, age 29, of Annapolis, Maryland;
• Anthony DeFilippo, a.k.a “Flip,” age 36, of Schenectady;
• Charles Adams, a.k.a. “Chuck,” age 32, of Peru, New York;
• Travynn Ippolito, a.k.a “Trav,” age 30, of Plattsburgh; and
• Luke Kiroy, age 33, of Saranac, New York.

The tenth defendant, Danielle Conners, age 32, of Plattsburgh, is scheduled for trial on August 27, 2018.  The charge against Conners is merely an accusation, and she is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. 

The charges are the result of a nearly yearlong investigation led by the DEA Task Force in Plattsburgh, which consists of law enforcement officers from the DEA, Homeland Security Investigations, United States Border Patrol, New York State Police, Clinton County Sheriff’s Office, Essex County Sheriff’s Office, and the Plattsburgh Police Department.  The New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision also assisted in the investigation. 

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cyrus P.W. Rieck and Katherine Kopita.