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Press Release

Rochester Man Pleads Guilty To Selling Cocaine

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of New York

CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051

ROCHESTER, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Harold A. Rodriguez, 44, of Rochester, NY, pleaded guilty before Chief U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr. to possessing with intent to distribute and distributing cocaine. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. McGrath, who is handling the case, stated that in 2017, law enforcement officers were alerted to the drug trafficking activities of the defendant. On January 25, 2018, Rodriguez sold approximately 64 grams of cocaine to an individual working with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in exchange for $2,700 in cash. In addition, Rodriguez sold a total of 63 grams of cocaine to the individual on two separate occasions between February 8 and March 15, 2018.

On April 20, 2019, the defendant was pulled over by a New York State Police Trooper on Route 490 in Rochester and arrested for Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle. During a search of the vehicle, the trooper found a Glock pistol and ammunition. 

The plea is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge John B. Devito, and the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Eric Laughton.

Sentencing is scheduled for October 21, 2019, at 11:00 a.m. before Judge Geraci.

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Updated July 9, 2019

Topic
Drug Trafficking