FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT
DATE: AUGUST 29, 2018
RE: PRESS RELEASE – RICARDO ALMENTEROS SENTENCING
On August 28, 2018 Ricardo Almenteros of Rochester, New York, was sentenced by Ulster County Court Judge Donald A. Williams to 12 years in state prison with 5 years post release supervision on his conviction of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the first degree.
The events which led to defendant’s indictment occurred on December 3rd, 2017, at 2:40 am, when the New York State Police conducted a vehicle and traffic stop of defendant’s vehicle following a traffic infraction on I87 North in the Town of Plattekill.
A search under the hood of the suspect vehicle revealed 2.8 pounds of cocaine in brick form found hidden in the air intake compartment of the engine. The brick had an identifying mark of “OSO” (bear in spanish)—which is believed to be an identifier of the Sinaloa Cartel in Culiacan Mexico.
The Defendant has a 2011 Federal Felony conviction for Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine.
The case was prosecuted by Sr. Assistant District Attorney Clifford Owens and assisted by Assistant District Attorney Jarrid Blades. The defendant was represented by Public Defender Russell Schindler.