Press Release
New York City Man Sentenced to 25 Years for Running Massena Drug Operation
For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of New York
Sentencing of Patrick “Problem” Lloyd Marks the End of Prosecutions of 2 Violent Drug Trafficking Organizations that Operated in Massena
PLATTSBURGH, NEW YORK – Patrick Lloyd, a.k.a. “Problem,” age 28, of New York City, was sentenced today to serve 25 years in prison for distributing crack cocaine, cocaine, and heroin in the Massena area, and for possessing guns while distributing drugs.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Richard S. Hartunian and James C. Spero, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
Lloyd is the last of 17 defendants to be prosecuted and sentenced as a result of a long-term investigation led by HSI, the Massena Police Department, the St. Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department and the New York State Police. The investigation targeted 2 organizations – the Lloyd organization and the Matthew Malu organization – from New York City that brought drugs and violence to the Massena area in 2012 and 2013.
Senior U.S. District Judge Gary L. Sharpe, who called Lloyd’s actions “drug terrorism,” also sentenced Lloyd to 10 years of post-imprisonment supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Richard S. Hartunian said: “Lloyd’s nickname is ‘Problem,’ but thanks to this investigation he will not be a problem for the North Country anymore. The success of this case is the result of great cooperation among federal, state, local, Canadian and tribal agencies, which came together to put a stop to 2 criminal organizations with roots in New York City that were intent on bringing drugs and violence to the Massena area. Lloyd’s sentencing marks the end of this particular investigation but not to our commitment to keeping this and other North Country communities safe.”
James C. Spero, Special Agent in Charge of the HSI Buffalo Field Office, said: “The lengthy prison term handed down today emphasizes that drug traffickers will not find a safe haven distributing heroin in the North Country. Criminals who attempt to operate in this region, no matter where they are based, will continue to be aggressively targeted by the coordinated effort of federal, state and local law enforcement.”
From 2012 through September 2013, Lloyd led a drug trafficking organization operating in Massena and New York City. Lloyd and a co-conspirator, Michael Spencer, possessed firearms while dealing drugs. Under Lloyd’s direction, his couriers transported bulk quantities of cocaine and heroin from New York City to Massena. Upon reaching Massena, the drugs were stored in stash houses rented by Lloyd but not in his own name. At the same time, another drug trafficking organization run by Matthew Malu operated in Massena. The Lloyd and Malu organizations became violent rivals.
On June 20, 2012, Lloyd and Spencer robbed and assaulted members of the Malu organization. They stole cocaine from the Malu organization and distributed it. On October 22, 2012, in retaliation for the June 20 assault, members of the Malu organization assaulted Lloyd, Spencer, and others at an apartment in Massena. Some members of the Lloyd organization were stabbed, beaten, shot and tied up.
On December 22, 2012, Lloyd and others arranged for Bernie Russo to transport 177 grams of cocaine, 118 grams of heroin, and two firearms for the organization. United States Border Patrol agents stopped Russo and seized the cocaine, heroin, and firearms.
On July 7, 2013, New York State Troopers found Lloyd co-conspirators Justin Brailsford and Jon Garcia in possession of approximately 1,160 packages of heroin and 175 grams of cocaine.
On September 5, 2013, law enforcement officers executed search warrants at various residences in the Massena area. At Spencer’s residence, agents seized a loaded 9 millimeter Taurus handgun; an Orion flare gun modified to shoot .22 caliber live rounds; a loaded .25 caliber Titan handgun; 30 grams of powder cocaine; 2 grams of crack cocaine; and a digital scale. Law enforcement seized 410 grams of cocaine, 2 grams of crack, and 228 grams of heroin related to the Lloyd organization. On September 5, 2013, law enforcement arrested the following defendants for their participation in the Lloyd organization, all of whom have now been sentenced as follows:
Defendant |
Residence |
Imprisonment |
Supervised Release |
---|---|---|---|
Lloyd, Patrick |
New York City |
300 months |
120 months |
Spencer, Michael |
New York City |
180 months |
60 months |
Garcia, Jon |
New York City |
49 months |
36 months |
Brailsford, Justin |
Massena |
30 months |
36 months |
Huto, Zach |
Massena |
Time served (12 months) |
36 months |
Gardner, Ginelle |
Massena |
Time served (6 days) |
36 months |
Burke, Codi |
Massena |
60 months |
48 months |
Moore, Travis |
New York City |
120 months |
60 months |
Monaghan, Jessica |
Massena |
51 months |
60 months |
Moore, Leslie |
Massena |
Time served (89 days) |
60 months |
Berry, Catherine |
Massena |
Time served |
48 months |
Jandrew, Kimberly |
Massena |
18 months |
60 months |
Russo, Bernie |
Massena |
30 months |
36 months |
Law enforcement seized 200 grams of heroin, 27 grams of crack cocaine, and 29 grams of powder cocaine related to the Malu organization. Members of the Malu organization received the following sentences:
Defendant |
Residence |
Imprisonment |
Supervised Release |
---|---|---|---|
Malu, Matthew |
New York City |
63 months |
48 months |
Rosario, Tremel |
New York City |
65 months |
48 months |
Hendricks, Ian |
Massena |
24 months |
24 months |
Perrin, Star |
Massena |
Time served (5 days) |
36 months |
Assisting in this investigation were the District Attorneys of Clinton, Franklin and St. Lawrence Counties, the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Police Department, United States Customs and Border Protection, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the New York Attorney General’s Office, the Oneida Indian Nation Police, and the United States Border Patrol.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Katherine Kopita, Cyrus P.W. Rieck, and Daniel C. Gardner, who now works in the District of Maryland.
Updated September 8, 2016
Topic
Drug Trafficking
Component