Ballston Spa Felon Pleads Guilty to Drug Conspiracy and Firearm Charges

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Maxwell Leiser, age 35, of Ballston Spa, New York, pled guilty today to drug and firearm charges, and admitted to conspiring with the leader of a Schenectady-based drug trafficking organization to distribute cocaine base and heroin in Saratoga County. 

The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman, Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and New York State Police (NYSP) Acting Superintendent Steven A. Nigrelli.

Leiser admitted that between December 2020 and April 2021, he conspired with Terell M. Patrick aka “Lite,” to distribute approximately 465 grams of cocaine base and 198 grams of heroin in Saratoga County.  Leiser further admitted that he unlawfully possessed three firearms and ammunition as a felon. 

Leiser faces at least 10 years and up to life in prison, a term of supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life, and a maximum fine of $10 million, when he is sentenced by United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino on April 20, 2023.  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.

The following defendants have also pled guilty in connection with the conspiracy, and were sentenced as follows:

The following defendants have also pled guilty in connection with the conspiracy, and face the following penalties when they are sentenced:

This case was investigated by the FBI and NYSP, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emmet J. O’Hanlon.