Puerto Rican man Sentenced For His Role In Rochester Cocaine Conspiracy

ROCHESTER, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Freddie Silva Otero, 49, of Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, NY, who was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, five kilograms or more of cocaine, was sentenced to serve 57 months in prison by Chief U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Katelyn M. Hartford, who is handling the case, stated that between January 12, 2018, and January 29, 2018, the defendant conspired with others to distribute cocaine in the Rochester area.

In furtherance of the conspiracy, Otero communicated via telephone with co-defendants Leitscha Poncedeleon and Carlos Javier Figueroa regarding the shipment of cocaine from Puerto Rico to Rochester, via the United States Postal Service. Leitscha Poncedeleon would provide the defendant with addresses. Otero then mailed packages containing approximately two kilograms of cocaine each.

Between January 16 and January 24, 2018, the defendant shipped a total of six packages from Puerto Rico to Rochester via the United States Postal Service.

A total of 10 defendants have been charged in connection with this conspiracy, five have been convicted.

Today’s sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Violent Crime Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge John B. Devito, New York Field Division; the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief Mark Simmons; the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Todd Baxter; the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office, under the direction of District Attorney Sandra Doorley; the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Gary Loeffert; the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Ray Donovan, New York Field Division; the Greece Police Department, under the direction of Chief Patrick Phelan; the Brighton Police Department, under the direction of Chief Mark Henderson; and U.S. Border Patrol, under the direction of Patrol Agent-in-Charge Gregory Johnson.