ALBANY, NEW YORK – Nelson Rodriguez, age 38, of Amsterdam, New York, was arraigned yesterday on an indictment charging him with narcotics and firearms offenses.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith; Amsterdam Police Chief Greg Culick; and Special Agent in Charge Ashan M. Benedict of the New York Field Office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF).
A four-count indictment charges Rodriguez with conspiring to distribute cocaine base, or “crack,” from approximately June 2017 until August 3, 2017; possession with intent to distribute cocaine base; possession of a handgun in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The charges in the indictment are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
If convicted, Rodriguez faces up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $1 million, and a term of post-imprisonment supervised release of at least 3 years and up to life. Rodriguez also faces a consecutive sentence of 5 years in prison if convicted of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. 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.
Rodriguez was arraigned yesterday in Albany before United States Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Stewart and detained pending a trial scheduled before Senior United States District Judge Gary L. Sharpe.
This case is being investigated by the Amsterdam Police Department and the ATF, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cyrus P.W. Rieck.