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Cocaine Kingpin Gets 10 Years For Capital Region Trafficking Scheme

A 29-year-old man will spend years in federal prison for leading a cocaine trafficking ring that saw bricks of the drug pour into the region from Puerto Rico.

A 29-year-old Troy man will spend years in federal prison for leading a cocaine trafficking ring in the Capital Region.

A 29-year-old Troy man will spend years in federal prison for leading a cocaine trafficking ring in the Capital Region.

Photo Credit: Canva/pixelshot

Rensselaer County resident Jan Lopez-Colon, age 29, of Troy, was given a 10-year sentence in federal court in Albany on Monday, Aug. 22.

It came after he admitted to working with three others to have over 11 pounds of cocaine shipped from Puerto Rico to the Capital Region between June and December 2021, according to the US Attorney’s Office in the Northern District.

The drugs were sent through the US postal system in 1-kilogram bricks to addresses in Albany and Rensselaer counties. 

Runners then intercepted the packages and handed them off to Lopez-Colon for processing and distribution, prosecutors said.

In December 2022, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine and possession with intent to distribute.

In addition to his prison term, Lopez-Colon must also complete five years of supervised release.

The following co-defendants have pleaded guilty for their roles in the scheme:

  • Jesus Baez, age 34, of Troy; sentenced to five years in prison in July 2023
  • Ilvin Batista-Figueroa, age 31, of Albany; awaiting sentencing
  • Sam Calderon, age 20, of Troy; awaiting sentencing

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