ALBANY, NEW YORK – Ilvin Figueroa Batista, age 32, of Albany, pled guilty today to conspiring to distribute cocaine in the Capital Region. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the Boston Division of the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), made the announcement.
Batista admitted that between June 2021 and December 2021, in Albany and Rensselaer Counties, he conspired with others to receive cocaine shipped from Puerto Rico to distribute in the Capital Region. Batista’s role in the conspiracy was to receive cocaine from Puerto Rico shipped via U.S. mail and turn it over to other members of the conspiracy, who processed the cocaine and sold it.
Sentencing is scheduled for August 14, 2023 in front of Senior United States District Judge Gary L. Sharpe. Batista faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $1 million, and a term of supervised release of at least 3 years and up to life. Batista also agreed to forfeit $2,300 in cash seized when he was arrested.
Three coconspirators previously pled guilty for their roles in the conspiracy, which involved the receipt and distribution of more than 5 kilograms of cocaine in the Capital Region:
- Jan Lopez-Colon, age 28, of Troy, New York;
- Jesus Baez, age 32, of Loudonville, New York; and
- Sam Calderon, age 20, of Troy.
USPIS and its Capital Region Task Force, led by the USPIS and including the Albany Police Department, the Albany County Sheriff’s Office, and the Schenectady Police Department, as well as the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin S. Clark is prosecuting the case.
