Angel Ruiz, age 30, of Gloversville, New York, pled guilty on July 14 to drug trafficking and firearms crimes in Syracuse federal court. The charges include conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine and possessing firearms in furtherance of his drug trafficking crime, according to a July 23 announcement by First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Bryan DiGirolamo, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
In entering his plea, Ruiz admitted he participated in a drug conspiracy from June 2020 to March 2021. He also admitted selling cocaine out of a co-defendant’s house where both drugs and multiple firearms were stored. The firearms were kept in a safe with the drugs so that Ruiz and his co-conspirator could access them for protection against potential robbers.
“Because of the outstanding work of the ATF, the Gloversville community is safer today,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney John Sarcone. “This defendant chose to peddle narcotics on our streets and armed himself to protect that criminal trade, but that operation is over. He has been stopped, and now he faces the possibility of life in prison as a result of his actions.”
ATF Special Agent in Charge Bryan DiGirolamo said, “Drug trafficking and firearms are a dangerous combination that fuels violence and threatens the safety of our communities. This guilty plea demonstrates the effectiveness of strong partnerships and ATF’s unwavering commitment to investigating those who use firearms to further criminal activity. We appreciate the dedicated efforts of our law enforcement and prosecutorial partners in bringing this case to a successful resolution.”
Sentencing for Ruiz is scheduled for September 2 before Senior United States District Judge Frederick J. Scullin Jr., where he faces at least five years up to life imprisonment, a fine up to $1 million dollars, and supervised release from three years up to life after completing any prison term.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives is investigating this case with assistance from Gloversville Police Department; prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mikayla Espinosa and Geoffrey J.L Brown.
The U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of New York covers 32 counties across northern and central New York—including Albany—and maintains offices throughout its jurisdiction while prosecuting federal criminal cases on behalf of about 3.4 million residents, according to its official website.