Schenectady Man Pleads Guilty to Marijuana and Firearms Offenses

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Jeffrey C. Civitello Jr., age 24, of Schenectady, New York, pled guilty today to conspiring to traffic more than 100 kilograms of marijuana, and to possessing two firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. 

United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division, made the announcement.

Civitello Jr. admitted that from 2019 to 2021, he worked with others to acquire and sell more than 100 kilograms of marijuana.

On October 21, 2021, the DEA executed a federal search warrant on Civitello’s penthouse apartment residence in Schenectady.  Investigators located approximately 75 pounds of marijuana, mostly packaged in 1-pound bags, which Civitello Jr. intended to sell.  Additionally, they found $407,545 in cash and a 14-karat Miami Cuban chain, all of which were proceeds of drug trafficking.

In Civitello Jr.’s bedroom, investigators located a loaded Taurus Judge Public Defender revolver and a Smith and Wesson M&P 15-22 rifle loaded with a high-capacity magazine containing numerous .22 caliber rounds, including a round in the chamber.  In pleading guilty, Civitello Jr. admitted that he possessed these firearms to protect himself in the event that someone attempted to enter his apartment and steal his marijuana or his drug proceeds. 

Sentencing is scheduled for March 5, 2024 before United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino.  The parties have jointly recommended to Judge D’Agostino that Civitello Jr. receive a 10-year term of imprisonment, with half of the term running consecutive to the term of imprisonment to be imposed in a separate cocaine case in which Civitello Jr. faces at least 10 years in prison after being convicted at trial.

Civitello Jr. has already forfeited the $407,545 in cash found in his safe, and has also agreed to forfeit the firearms, ammunition and the Miami Cuban chain, and to entry of a $250,000 money judgment against him.

This case was investigated by the DEA’s Capital District Drug Enforcement Task Force, which includes DEA Special Agents and investigators from state and local police agencies, including the Saratoga Springs Police Department, the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, and the New York State Police.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Barnett is prosecuting this case.