Schenectady Man Sentenced to 72 Months for Role in Capital Region Drug Conspiracy

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Andrew Deleon, age 27, of Schenectady, New York, was sentenced today to 72 months in prison for conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, and distributing methamphetamine.

The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division; and Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the Boston Division of the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS).

As part of his earlier guilty plea, Deleon admitted that he received multiple packages in the U.S. Mail that he knew contained controlled substances and intended to give the controlled substances to the leader of the drug trafficking organization. Deleon also distributed methamphetamine on behalf of the organization. As part of the conspiracy, Deleon distributed and/or possessed with the intent to distribute approximately 1,827.18 grams of pure methamphetamine and 10.68 grams of fentanyl.

United States District Judge Anne M. Nardacci also imposed a term of 3 years of supervised release, which will start after Deleon is released from prison.

Five other defendants have been charged as part of this conspiracy and are currently awaiting trial:

The charges in the indictment are merely accusations. These defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Three other defendants charged as part of this conspiracy have pled guilty and are currently pending sentencing:

Melissa Karwan, age 37, of Schenectady, pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and distribution of methamphetamine. Karwan is scheduled to be sentenced on August 30, 2024.

Flor Arencibia, age 39, of Albany, pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and distribution of methamphetamine. Arencibia is scheduled to be sentenced on September 5, 2024.

Stefanie Plass, age 37, of Schenectady, pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and distribution of methamphetamine. Plass is scheduled to be sentenced on September 30, 2024.

These cases are being investigated by DEA and USPIS.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ashlyn Miranda and Joshua Rosenthal are prosecuting the cases.

This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. 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.