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.”…