Bronx Man Pleads Guilty to Drug Charges

       ROCHESTER, N.Y.-- U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr., announced today that Tyrus Harris, 36, of the Bronx, N.Y., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr., to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. The charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum 40 years, a fine of $5,000,000.00, or both.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Frank H. Sherman, who handled the case, stated that the defendant participated in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine from 2005 until August 2012. During the time period of the conspiracy, in New York City, Harris arranged for the distribution of quantities of cocaine with others to individuals who were transporting the drugs to Rochester and distributing them. The defendant admitted that at least 3.5 kilograms of cocaine was involved in this conduct.

The plea is the culmination of an investigation on the part of Special Agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James J. Hunt, New York Field Division, investigators with the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief Michael Ciminelli, and Special Agents of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, under the direction of Shantelle P. Kitchen, Acting Special Agent in Charge, New York Field Office.