Rochester Woman Pleads Guilty To Drug Charge

CONTACT:      Barbara Burns
PHONE:         (716) 843-5817
FAX:            (716) 551-3051
 
ROCHESTER, N.Y.—U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr., announced today that Iris Diaz, 27, of Rochester, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford to conspiring with others to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 40 years In prison, a fine of $5,000,000, or both.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles E. Moynihan, who is handling the case, stated in January of 2012, members of the Drug Enforcement Administration commenced an investigation into the narcotics trafficking activities of Diaz, Alberto Alfaro, Edwin Rosado, and others.  On January 27, 2012, as part of this investigation, law enforcement purchased a gram of heroin from Alfaro during a pre-arranged deal involving a confidential informant.  On February 13, 2012 and, again on April 26, 2012, members of law enforcement purchased additional heroin from the organization utilizing undercover police officers. On May 8, 2012, and on May 14, 2012, members of the Drug Enforcement Administration negotiated an additional purchase of heroin from Alfaro. During the negotiation, Alfaro and Diaz agreed that Diaz would be the contact person for the organization during subsequent negotiations for purchases of heroin.  A subsequent contact between law enforcement and Diaz occurred on May 14, 2012, at which time Diaz agreed that Alfaro would sell additional heroin to the undercover law enforcement officers on May 15, 2012.

On May 15, 2012, members of the Drug Enforcement Administration met Alfaro in the parking lot of the Walmart retail store located at 1490 Hudson Avenue in the City of Rochester.  While there, an undercover law enforcement officer met with Alfaro and told him that he had the agreed upon amount of money.  Alfaro then placed a telephone call to another member of the organization.  Shortly after, co-defendant Andrea Y. Marrero-Garcia approached Alfaro and the undercover law enforcement officer and provided a blue plastic bag containing two small cardboard boxes, in which officers found heroin. Alfaro and Marrero-Garcia were immediately taken into custody at the scene.

At nearly the same time, members of law enforcement executed court authorized search warrants at multiple locations in the City of Rochester which the investigation revealed were related to the organization. At one of the locations, 852 North Street, law enforcement located drug paraphernalia, including digital scales and packaging materials associated with heroin distribution.  At that location, members of law enforcement located and arrested Diaz.   

Defendants Rosado and Marrerro-Garcia have been convicted and are awaiting sentencing. Charges are pending against Alfaro. The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. 

The plea is the culmination of an investigation on the part of Special Agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of James J. Hunt, Special Agent in Charge, New York Field Division and the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief Michael Ciminelli.

Sentencing is scheduled for October 29, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. before Judge Wolford.