Schenectady Resident Pleads Guilty to Role in Cocaine Distribution Conspiracy

United States Attorney Richard S. Hartunian announced that on May 12, 2011, Jamie Lee Toomer, 27, of Schenectady, pled guilty before United States District Court Judge Lawrence E. Kahn to the crime of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine and more than 50 grams of crack cocaine. Toomer admitted that his involvement in the charged conspiracy exceeded more than 2.8 kilograms of crack cocaine.

When Toomer is sentenced on August 18, 2011, he faces a mandatory minimum of 20 years’ imprisonment with a maximum sentence of life.

Toomer was indicted with 14 others for a conspiracy to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine in the Northern District of New York between August 2009 and March 2010. The indictment charges that it was the role of Jamie Lee Toomer to obtain cocaine and crack cocaine in the city of New York and have it transported to Schenectady, New York for re-distribution.

Toomer admitted that on February 16, 2010, he was in possession of $42,900 in a vehicle on the New York State Thruway that he intended to use to purchase cocaine and crack cocaine. He further admitted that on March 28, 2010 he was in an apartment in Schenectady, New York in which there were approximately 750 grams of crack cocaine and 220 grams of cocaine. Four defendants have pled guilty and charges are pending against 12 defendants.

The investigation that resulted in these convictions was conducted by U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New York State Police, and the Schenectady Police Department.

CONTACT: Assistant U.S. Attorney William Pericak at (518) 431-0247