Rensselaer Man Indicted for Conspiring to Possess and Possessing 3 Kilos of Cocaine

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Angel Madera, age 30, of Rensselaer, New York, was ordered detained pending trial last week on an indictment charging him with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute a controlled substance, and possession with the intent to distribute a controlled substance.  United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement.

The charges filed against Madera carry a mandatory prison sentence of between 5 and 40 years; a fine of up to $5,000,000; and a term of supervised release of at least 4 years and up to life.  A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is convicted of violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.

United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III stated: “The defendant is charged with bringing significant quantities of dangerous drugs from New York City to be distributed in the Capital District.  Narcotics have been ravaging our society and here in the Northern District of New York, if you are arrested for distributing narcotics or possessing them with the intent to distribute, regardless of the quantity, you will face the highest possible punishment the law provides.”  

FBI Special Agent in Charge Tremaroli stated: "As alleged, Mr. Madera trafficked dangerous drugs into the Capital Region with the intention of selling them in our communities. The FBI will continue to do everything we can to stop the sale of illicit narcotics in our streets and keep our communities safe.”

The indictment charges Madera with conspiring with another person, Daval Byrams, to bring cocaine from New York City to the Capital District for further distribution.  On March 11, 2025, three bricks of cocaine, weighing one kilogram each were recovered from Byrams as he and Madera exited a bus together in Schenectady. Byrams pled guilty earlier this month to possessing the three kilograms of cocaine with the intent to distribute it. Byrams sentencing is scheduled for September 16, 2025.

The charges in the indictment are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force investigated the case, which Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Reiner is prosecuting.