California Cocaine Supplier to Rochester Sentenced

ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Eric Contreras, a/k/a Poppy, 29, of Los Angeles, California, who was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of 500 grams or more of cocaine, was sentenced to 188 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Charles J. Siragusa.

            Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert A. Marangola, who handled the case, stated that Contreras supplied cocaine from California to armed cocaine and crack cocaine distributors in Rochester. These distributors then processed and distributed the cocaine in powder and crack form. On May 15, 2012, after arranging a multi-kilo transaction, Contreras was arrested by Special Agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration at his home in Whittier, California.  

“This case is a good example of the persistence of our Office, working collaboratively with our law enforcement partners, to track down and bring defendants to justice wherever they are,” said U.S. Attorney Hochul. “We will not tolerate defendants who bring illegal narcotics into our community. As this case demonstrates, you will be found, prosecuted and could spend many years behind bars.”

            The sentencing is the culmination of an investigation on conducted by the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief James Sheppard, the Rochester Office of the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Brian R. Crowell, New York Field Division, and the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office, under the direction of Sandra Doorley.