Watertown Man Sentenced For Possessing Synthetic Drugs

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Lakendrick Cobey, 40, of Watertown, New York, was sentenced to serve fifty (50) months in prison followed by a three (3) year term of supervised release in connection with his possession with intent to distribute ethylone, a synthetic drug similar to ecstasy, announced United States Attorney Richard S. Hartunian and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge James C. Spero.

Special Agents of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) executed a federal search warrant at Cobey’s residence in Watertown, New York on April 28, 2015, during which they recovered $978.00 in drug proceeds, an electric money counter, two mobile telephones and drug paraphernalia. Lakendrick Cobey pled guilty on December 14, 2015 to possessing with intent to distribute approximately two (2) pounds of the synthetic drug that he ordered from Chinese suppliers.

As part of his plea of guilty, Lakendrick Cobey admitted that he ordered two shipments of synthetic drugs from China that were seized by U.S. Customs officials when they entered the United States. The seizure of these drugs led to the issuance and execution of a federal court search warrant and the arrest of the defendant. At the time of his arrest, Lakendrick Cobey was serving a sentence of probation in connection with his previous conviction for a New York State felony drug offense.

This case was investigated by the United States Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard R. Southwick.