Alex Calcano-Carrasquillo, 44, of Puerto Rico, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for his involvement in a drug trafficking and money laundering conspiracy. According to federal authorities, Calcano-Carrasquillo admitted as part of his guilty plea that between July 2021 and July 2024, he worked with others to distribute cocaine in Onondaga County. After receiving payments from co-conspirators, he mailed packages containing over 20 kilograms of cocaine from Puerto Rico to Syracuse addresses provided by Juan Correa, Sr.
Senior United States District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby also imposed a five-year term of supervised release on Calcano-Carrasquillo following his prison sentence. Co-defendant Juan Correa, Jr. previously pleaded guilty and was sentenced to seven years in prison. Two other co-defendants, Juan Correa, Sr. and Ashley Correa, have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.
Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III said: “Bringing the Puerto Rican source of supply in this conspiracy to justice for his role in flooding our local streets with poison for years is a testament to the close collaboration of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies up and down the East Coast. No stone will be left unturned in our pursuit of these sophisticated drug trafficking organizations.”
DEA Special Agent in Charge Frank A. Tarentino III commented: “This case highlights the DEA’s focus on cutting off drug pipelines that bring cocaine from sources like Puerto Rico into New York communities. Working with our law enforcement partners, we are committed to disrupting these supply chains and preventing dangerous narcotics from reaching our streets.”
Harry T. Chavis, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of IRS-Criminal Investigation New York, stated: “Calcano-Carrasquillo is just another predator who chose to bring highly addictive drugs into our neighborhoods, continuing to prey on the vulnerable. IRS-CI New York is proud to continue its work with the DEA and our law enforcement partners in ridding our communities of those who have no regard for the welfare of its people. Today’s sentencing does exactly that.”
Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the United States Postal Inspection Service (Boston Division), said: “Alex Calcano-Carrasquillo was part of a drug trafficking organization that coordinated a cocaine pipeline from Puerto Rico to New York through the U.S. Mail. His conviction highlights how committed the U.S. Postal Inspection Service is to dismantling drug trafficking organizations that threaten the safety of our employees and the American people. We would like to thank our extraordinary law enforcement partners for their invaluable collaboration in this case. Together we will continue to be vigilant in disrupting criminal organizations that illegally utilize the U.S. Postal Service.”
Joseph L. Cecile, Chief of the Syracuse Police Department, added: “Law Enforcement is never stronger than when we partner together. Together, we represent an omnipresent threat to criminal enterprises such as this one. On behalf of the Syracuse Police Department, I would like to both thank and congratulate the U.S. Attorney’s Office and all of our law enforcement partners who successfully dismantled this drug trafficking organization. Well done!"
The investigation involved several agencies including the DEA, IRS Criminal Investigation Division, United States Postal Inspection Service, and Syracuse Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Brown prosecuted the case.
This prosecution was conducted under an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation which aims at identifying and dismantling major drug traffickers using a multi-agency approach involving federal, state and local law enforcement efforts.
