Albany Man Sentenced on Drug Charges

ALBANY—United States Attorney Richard S. Hartunian announced the conviction and sentence of John Van Hoesen of Albany, New York, on one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of crack cocaine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 846 and 841(a)(1), and three counts of possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine, all in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1). A federal jury found Mr. Van Hoesen guilty of these charges after trial on January 14, 2009. The Honorable Gary L. Sharpe, United States District Court Judge, sentenced Mr. Van Hoesen to a mandatory minimum of life imprisonment on the crack cocaine conspiracy charge, concurrent sentences of life imprisonment on two of the crack cocaine possession charges, and a concurrent sentence of 360 months on the remaining crack cocaine possession charge.

This prosecution resulted from a joint investigation conducted by the Office of the United States Attorney for the Northern District of New York; the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Albany Field Division; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives; the Drug Enforcement Administration, Albany District Office; the City of Albany Police Department; the Albany County Sheriff’s Department; the Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Department; the New York State Department of Corrections; the New York State Division of Parole; the New York State Police; the United States Marshal, Northern District of New York, Albany Office; the Albany County District Attorney’s Office; the Rensselaer County District Attorney’s Office; the Town of Guilderland Police Department; the Town of Bethlehem Police Department; and the City of Cohoes Police Department.

The case was prosecuted by U.S. Attorney Richard S. Hartunian.