Juan Correa Sr., 49, of Lady Lake, Florida, has been sentenced to 17.5 years in federal prison for his role as the leader of a cocaine trafficking operation that moved large quantities of the drug from Puerto Rico to Syracuse, New York. The sentencing was announced by Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division.
Correa Sr. pleaded guilty to charges including money laundering and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute over five kilograms of cocaine. According to court documents, between July 2021 and July 2024, Correa Sr. coordinated with others to send packages containing kilograms of cocaine from Puerto Rico to Onondaga County, New York. He directed Alex Calcano-Carrasquillo to mail these packages, which were then picked up and distributed by Juan Correa Jr. and Ashley Correa in the Syracuse area. Proceeds from sales were mailed back to Calcano-Carrasquillo for further drug purchases.
All four individuals involved in the conspiracy have pleaded guilty and received sentences: Calcano-Carrasquillo was sentenced to ten years; Juan Correa Jr., seven years; and Ashley Correa, just over seven years.
Senior United States District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby also ordered that Correa Sr. serve five years of supervised release after completing his prison term.
Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III stated: “Bringing the head of this dangerous organization to justice is a testament to the close collaboration of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies up and down the East Coast. This defendant had 5 prior state felony drug convictions and didn’t learn his lesson. 17 years in federal prison should do the trick. We remain committed to ensuring repeat offenders like this defendant, who make money from flooding our community with deadly drugs, get taken off our streets.”
DEA Special Agent in Charge Frank A. Tarentino III said: “The sentencing of Juan Correa Sr., is the result of the hard work and determination the DEA and our law enforcement partners have when targeting those individuals looking to transport illicit narcotics through the northeast corridor. The DEA remains focused on disrupting these supply chains and preventing these dangerous narcotics from reaching our streets.”
Harry T. Chavis, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of IRS-Criminal Investigation New York added: “Juan Correa Sr. 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. This sentencing does exactly that.”
Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge at U.S Postal Inspection Service Boston Division stated: “Through our joint enforcement efforts, we’ve dismantled a criminal organization that posed a serious public safety threat to New York communities. As this sentence demonstrates, the U.S Postal Inspection Service is working closely with its law enforcement partners to prevent dangerous and addictive drugs from reaching our streets and ensuring that perpetrators of such attempts are brought to justice.”
Joseph L. Cecile, Chief of Syracuse Police Department said: “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 both thank and congratulate U.S Attorney’s Office & all law enforcement partners who successfully dismantled this drug trafficking organization."
The investigation was led by multiple agencies including DEA, IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), United States Postal Inspection Service, and Syracuse Police Department.
This prosecution falls under an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation aimed at identifying and dismantling major drug traffickers using coordinated efforts among federal, state, and local authorities.
