Federal jury convicts Arizona man of drug trafficking and money laundering conspiracy charges
Evidence proved Alonzo Harris shipped dozens of pounds of methamphetamine into the Northern District of New York
SYRCAUSE, NY - Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge James J. Hunt of the New York Division, United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith, U.S. Postal Inspector in Charge Joseph Cronin, and New York State Police Superintendent George P. Beach II announced that Alonzo Harris, 43, of Youngtown, Arizona, was convicted today of federal drug trafficking and money laundering charges following a four-day jury trial.
The evidence at trial proved that the defendant used the U.S. Postal Service to mail more than 50 multi-pound packages of methamphetamine from the Phoenix, Arizona area to Broome County New York, where members of his drug trafficking organization distributed it to local dealers and users. The trial evidence also established that the defendant, along with his co-conspirators, generated hundreds of thousands of dollars in proceeds from the sale of methamphetamine.
The conviction in this case was the result of a multi-agency investigation, Operation Hailstorm, which resulted in charges against 10 individuals involved in the illegal methamphetamine-trafficking activity. The other nine defendants all previously pled guilty.
Sentencing for Alonzo Harris is scheduled for February 6, 2019 in Syracuse, New York before Chief United States District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby. At sentencing, the defendant faces a mandatory term of 10 years and up to life imprisonment.
This case was investigated by the DEA, Syracuse Resident Office; the United States Postal Inspection Service, the New York State Police; the Broome County Special Investigations Unit Task Force; and the Vestal Police Department and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicolas Commandeur and Michael Gadarian.
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