ROCHESTER, N.Y.-- U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that James Hardaway, Jr., a/k/a Jabber, 30, of Rochester, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr. to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute 28 grams or more of crack cocaine. The charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life, a fine of $8,000,000 or both.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert A. Marangola, who is handling the case, stated that Hardaway and others purchased large quantities of powder cocaine which was then processed into crack cocaine, packaged, and resold in various quantities in Rochester. The defendant was arrested on Jan. 16, 2014 at 80 Ambrose Street in Rochester after attempting to flee law enforcement officers executing a search warrant at the address. Inside 80 Ambrose Street, officers seized crack cocaine packaged for street sale, paraphernalia for weighing, processing and packaging narcotics, and several rounds of.38 caliber handgun ammunition.
The conviction is the culmination of an investigation by Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief Michael Ciminelli and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 2, 2015 at 3:00 pm before Judge Geraci.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
