ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr., announced today that Ronald Walker, 43, of Corona, N.Y., who was convicted of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and one kilogram or more of heroin and conspiracy to commit money laundering, was sentenced to 10 years in prison by U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr. The defendant was also ordered to assets totaling $2,500,000 to the United States, which represented the amount of proceeds from the drug trafficking conspiracy.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Frank H. Sherman, who handled the case, stated that between 2005 and August 2012, the defendant was part of a conspiracy to distribute cocaine and heroin. During the time period of the conspiracy, Walker was in New York City and arranged for the distribution of quantities of cocaine and heroin through others to individuals who were transporting the drugs to Rochester and distributing them. The conspiracy involved at least 40 kilograms of cocaine and one kilogram of heroin. In addition, Walker laundered drug proceeds by placing at least $911,000 in cash in safe deposit boxes opened by other individuals to conceal the proceeds. In August 2012, authorities seized the cash from these safe deposit boxes, as well as approximately $615,000 in cash from two residences connected to the defendant. Walker agreed to forfeit all of that cash, as well as a 2012 Range Rover vehicle, articles of jewelry and two properties located in Corona, N.Y., and Union City, Georgia, as proceeds of his illegal activities.
The sentencing is the culmination of an investigation on the part of Special Agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Brian R. Crowell, Special Agent in Charge, New York Field Division, investigators with the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief James M. Sheppard, and Special Agents of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Toni Weirauch, New York Field Office.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
