Rochester Man Pleads Guilty to Drug Charges

ROCHESTER, N.Y.-- U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Cyle Krepps, a/k/a Black, a/k/a Trick, a/k/a Durell, a/k/a Dred, 25, of Rochester, N.Y., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr. to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute 280 grams or more of cocaine base, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison, a maximum of life, a fine of $10,000,000 or both.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert A. Marangola, who is handling the case, stated that between 2009 and 2011, Krepps processed cocaine into cocaine base which he then sold in various quantities and at different locations in the City of Rochester, including a house at 95 Friederich Park. On September 14, 2011, law enforcement officers arrested Krepps driving a rental vehicle after surveilling him leave 95 Friederich Park. The defendant had keys to the residence and over $2,200 in U.S. currency when he was arrested.

Officers then executed a search warrant at 95 Friederich Park, which was barricaded and monitored by an alarm system. Inside, officers seized a stolen, pistol-grip AR-15 style rifle chamber-loaded with seven rounds of live ammunition, a bag containing approximately 2 grams of cocaine base, a cell phone, and drug trafficking paraphernalia, which included scales for weighing drugs, empty bags for packaging drugs for sale, and dilutant to process drugs.

The conviction is the culmination of an investigation by members of the Violent Enforcement Suppression Team (“VEST”) of the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief James Sheppard, the Greater Rochester Area Narcotics Enforcement team (“GRANET”), under the direction of Lieutenant Gerald Smith, and Special Agents of the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives under the direction of Scott Heagney.

Sentencing is scheduled for August 8 at 2:00 p.m. before Judge Geraci.