A Syracuse man, Juan Correa, Jr., has been sentenced to seven years in a federal penitentiary for charges related to drug trafficking and money laundering, as announced by United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and DEA Special Agent in Charge Frank A. Tarentino III. Correa, Jr., age 31, admitted to his role in a cocaine distribution ring that spanned from May 2024 to July 2024 within Onondaga County. The conviction also came with the imposition of a 5-year term of supervised release after his prison sentence concludes. The information of the sentencing originated from the U.S. Attorney's Office of the Northern District of New York, which prosecuted the case as part of an effort to dismantle high-level drug trafficking networks.
The investigation unveiled that Correa, Jr. was involved in the operation, not only in distributing the drugs but also in managing the financial angle by sending proceeds from cocaine sales in the U.S. back to suppliers located in Puerto Rico. This financial transaction was to fund further illicit drug purchases. As part of this case, other individuals, including Juan Correa, Sr., Ashley Correa, and Alex Calcano-Carrasquillo, previously pled guilty and are currently awaiting their sentencing.
In statements obtained by the U.S. Attorney's Office, officials were vocal about the collaborative efforts of various law enforcement agencies that made the prosecution possible. United States Attorney Sarcone III highlighted the significance of this partnership, stating, "In this case we tracked down individuals in Florida and Puerto Rico who played key roles in this conspiracy and brought them to justice." DEA Special Agent Tarentino added, "Anytime illicit narcotics are removed from our streets, lives are saved. The DEA remains committed to doing everything in our power to protect our neighborhoods and keep them safe."
Collaboration between federal, state, and local agencies played a vital role in dismantling Correa Jr.'s operation. Special Agent in Charge Harry T. Chavis, Jr. of IRS-Criminal Investigation New York addressed the harmful impact of Correa’s actions and the ongoing efforts to remove dangerous substances from communities. Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Boston Division, emphasized the agency’s commitment to ensuring the security of mail services and preventing their misuse for criminal activity. Syracuse Police Chief Joseph L. Cecile recognized the conviction as a result of the continued work of narcotics detectives and partnering agencies. Each organization contributed distinct expertise and resources, illustrating the effectiveness of joint efforts in disrupting networks that pose risks to public safety.
This conspiracy case is part of the broader efforts of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), which utilize a coordinated, multi-agency strategy to identify and dismantle major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations both nationally and internationally. The investigation was led by the Syracuse Police Department, DEA, IRS-CI, and the United States Postal Inspection Service, whose collaborative work led to the successful resolution of the case and held Correa Jr. and his associates accountable for their roles in attempting to distribute drugs across Upstate New York.
