ALBANY, NEW YORK – Saul E. Pacheco, age 37, of the Bronx, New York, was arrested last week and charged with conspiring to distribute more than 100 grams of heroin in Columbia County.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith; Special Agent in Charge James J. Hunt, New York Division, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); and Columbia County Sheriff David P. Bartlett.
According to the criminal complaint, Pacheco was supplying heroin to a Columbia County drug dealer from December 2017 through April 2018. Pacheco was arrested on April 4, 2018, while attempting to meet the Columbia County dealer in the parking lot of a casino in Yonkers, Westchester County. In the parking lot, DEA Special Agents located a plastic bag containing approximately 50 grams of heroin, which Pacheco had possessed and then discarded once he noticed Agents approaching him. The charges in the indictment are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
If convicted, Pacheco faces at least 5 years and up to 40 years in prison, as well as a term of post-imprisonment supervised release of at least 4 years and up to life. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
Pacheco appeared today for a detention hearing before United States Magistrate Judge Christian F. Hummel, who ordered him released with conditions, including a secured bond, electronic monitoring and home confinement.
This case is being investigated by the DEA and the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Barnett.
