Drug Conspirator Sentenced to 10 Years For Mailing Cocaine from Puerto Rico to Syracuse

CNY Online News
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SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Alex Calcano-Carrasquillo age 44, of Puerto Rico, was sentenced yesterday to 10 years in prison for money laundering and conspiring to possess with intent to distribute over 5 kilograms of cocaine. Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division, made the announcement.

As part of his prior guilty plea, Calcano-Carrasquillo admitted that from July 2021 through July 2024, he conspired with others to distribute cocaine in Onondaga County. As part of the conspiracy, Calcano-Carrasquillo, after receiving payment from his co-conspirators, mailed packages containing over 20 kilograms of cocaine from Puerto Rico to various addresses in Syracuse that were provided to him by Juan Correa, Sr.

Senior United States District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby also ordered Calcano-Carrasquillo to serve a 5-year term of supervised release following his release from prison. Co-defendant Juan Correa, Jr. previously pled guilty and was sentenced to 7 years in prison. The remaining co-defendants in this case, Juan Correa, Sr. and Ashley Correa have pled guilty and are awaiting sentencing.

Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III stated: “Bringing the Puerto Rican source of supply in this conspiracy to justice for his role in flooding our local streets with poison for years is a testament to the close collaboration of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies up and down the East Coast. No stone will be left unturned in our pursuit of these sophisticated drug trafficking organizations.”

DEA Special Agent in Charge Frank A. Tarentino III stated: “This case highlights the DEA’s focus on cutting off drug pipelines that bring cocaine from sources like Puerto Rico into New York communities. Working with our law enforcement partners, we are committed to disrupting these supply chains and preventing dangerous narcotics from reaching our streets.”

Harry T. Chavis, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of IRS-Criminal Investigation New York, stated: “Calcano-Carrasquillo is just another predator who chose to bring highly addictive drugs into our neighborhoods, continuing to prey on the vulnerable. IRS-CI New York is proud to continue its work with the DEA and our law enforcement partners in ridding our communities of those who have no regard for the welfare of its people. Today’s sentencing does exactly that.”

Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the United States Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division, stated: “Alex Calcano-Carrasquillo was part of a drug trafficking organization that coordinated a cocaine pipeline from Puerto Rico to New York through the U.S. Mail. His conviction highlights how committed the U.S. Postal Inspection Service is to dismantling drug trafficking organizations that threaten the safety of our employees and the American people. We would like to thank our extraordinary law enforcement partners for their invaluable collaboration in this case. Together we will continue to be vigilant in disrupting criminal organizations that illegally utilize the U.S. Postal Service.”

Joseph L. Cecile, Chief of the Syracuse Police Department, stated: “Law Enforcement is never stronger than when we partner together. Together, we represent an omnipresent threat to criminal enterprises such as this one. On behalf of the Syracuse Police Department, I would like to both thank and congratulate the U.S. Attorney’s Office and all of our law enforcement partners who successfully dismantled this drug trafficking organization. Well done!"

This case was investigated by the DEA, U.S. Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Syracuse Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Brown prosecuted the case.

This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

Updated August 20, 2025