Indictment Alleges a Fentanyl Trafficking Organization Operated in Syracuse; One Defendant Charged with Unlawful Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK - Four Syracuse men were indicted yesterday and charged with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, and possessing controlled substances with the intent to distribute. The announcement was made by Acting U.S. Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon; Ray Donovan, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Field Division; and Chief Kenton Buckner, City of Syracuse Police Department.
* Raphael Frias, age 28, was charged with conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, and possessing fentanyl with the intent to distribute. If convicted, Frias faces between 5 and 40 years in prison, a fine of up to $5 million, and a term of supervised release of at least 4 years and up to life.
* Carlos Esteras, age 40, was charged with conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, and possessing fentanyl with the intent to distribute. If convicted, Esteras faces between 5 and 40 years in prison, a fine of up to $5 million, and a term of supervised release of at least 4 years and up to life.
* Adrian Esteras, age 37, was charged with conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, and possessing cocaine with the intent to distribute. If convicted, Esteras faces up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $1 million, and a term of supervised release of at least 3 years and up to life.
* Shane Williams, age 30, was charged with conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, and possessing a firearm and ammunition after being convicted of a felony. If convicted, Williams faces up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $1 million, and a term of supervised release of at least 3 years and up to life.
The charges in the indictment are merely accusations, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. 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.
The defendants were arrested on July 6, 2021, and are detained pending trial. At the time of the defendants’ arrests, law enforcement seized over 1,500 envelopes containing suspected fentanyl, a quantity of cocaine, and a loaded Smith & Wesson 9mm handgun.
This case is being investigated by the DEA, the Syracuse Police Department, the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office, the Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office, the New York State Police, the New York State Division of Parole, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Sutcliffe.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
