DOJ Seal

Department of Justice

U.S. Attorney's Office
Western District of New York

For Immediate Release

Thursday, January 23, 2014
William J. Hochul, Jr.
, United States Attorney
Contact: Barbara Burns

Cocaine Trafficker Pleads Guilty to Drug Charge

ROCHESTER, N.Y.-- U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Tremec Jeffries, 38, of Rochester, N.Y., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge David G. Larimer to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute 280 grams or more of crack cocaine. The charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life, a fine of $10,000,000 or both.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert A. Marangola, who is handling the case, stated that Jeffries and others purchased large quantities of powder cocaine that they processed into crack cocaine, packaged, and resold it in various quantities in the City of Rochester.  Jeffries was arrested on August 1, 2013 after he was surveilled by officers arriving at 35 Wakefield Street in Rochester operating his 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche. The defendant unlocked the location with a key and entered. Officers then raided the location and Jeffries, the only person inside, was arrested after attempting to jump out a second story window.

Inside the residence, officers seized 50 grams of crack cocaine, 31 grams of powder cocaine, processing and packaging paraphernalia, a .12 gauge shotgun, and a loaded, Glock .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol that had been reported stolen out of North Carolina in 2010. Jeffries had $1,640 in U.S. currency on his person and the Avalanche contained $15,000 in U.S. currency bundled in $1,000 increments. The cash has been forfeited by the Drug Enforcement Administration as drug money.

The conviction is the culmination of an investigation on the part of Special Agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Jamie J. Hunt, New York Field Division, with assistance provided by the Greater Rochester Area Narcotics Enforcement Team (GRANET), and the Rochester Police Department under the direction of Acting Chief Michael Ciminelli, the Monroe County District Attorney=s Office, under the direction of Sandra Doorley, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Resident Agent in Charge, Scott Heagney.

Sentencing is scheduled for May 21, 2014 at 3:00 pm before Judge Larimer.

 

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New York Field Division