ROCHESTER, N.Y.--U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that a federal grand jury in Rochester has returned a one-count indictment charging Christopher Kendrick, 37, of Rochester, N.Y., with possession with intent to distribute of five kilograms or more of cocaine. The charge carries a maximum penalty of life in prison, a fine of $10,000,000, or both.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Frank H. Sherman, who is handling the case, stated that Kendrick was arrested on February 4, 2014 after his vehicle was stopped by New York State Police on Interstate 490 near Chili. According to the indictment, a search of the vehicle uncovered 24 kilograms of cocaine in a hidden compartment. At the time of his arrest, the defendant was employed by the City of Rochester as an operations worker.
Kendrick has been ordered detained in custody pending trial by U.S. Magistrate Judge Marian W. Payson.
The complaints are the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James J. Hunt, New York Field Office, the New York State Police Community Narcotics Enforcement Team (CNET), under the direction of Major Wayne C. Olson, and the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office, under the direction of Sandra Doorley.
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.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
