ALBANY, NY - Victor M. Diaz, age 29, of Johnstown, New York, was arrested yesterday for possessing and intending to distribute a controlled substance.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith, DEA New York Division Special Agent in Charge Ray Donovan, and City of Amsterdam Police Chief Gregory J. Culick.
The charge in the complaint is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
According to the criminal complaint, law enforcement executing a search warrant yesterday found Diaz in possession of approximately 1,500 small bags of heroin and/or fentanyl.
Diaz appeared today before United States Magistrate Judge Christian F. Hummel, who ordered Diaz detained pending further proceedings. If convicted, Diaz faces up to 20 years in prison, and a term of post-imprisonment supervised release of at least three years and up to life. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
This case is being investigated by the DEA Albany Resident Office and the Amsterdam Police Department, with assistance from the New York State Police and the Johnstown Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Barnett.
