ALBANY, NEW YORK – Masood Sharifipour, age 36, of Guilderland, New York, was sentenced today to 30 months in prison for his role in a marijuana trafficking and money laundering conspiracy.
The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon; Acting Inspector in Charge Joshua McCallister, Boston Division, United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); Kevin Kelly, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); and Jonathan D. Larsen, Special Agent in Charge, New York Field Office, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI).
Sharifipour pled guilty in March 2019. He admitted that from December 2013 through June 2017, he worked with others to transport at least 100 kilograms of marijuana through various means, including couriers, the U.S. Mail, and private shippers, from California to the Capital Region.
Sharifipour further admitted that during the conspiracy, he sent at least 50 packages containing drug proceeds to co-conspirators in California via the U.S. Mail and private shippers. Sharifipour used Post Office boxes in the Capital Region, as well as residences in Schenectady, Niskayuna, Loudonville, Guilderland, and elsewhere, occupied by himself, or people whom he knew, for the purpose of receiving shipments of marijuana from his co-conspirators in California.
Law enforcement searches of two of his residences, in 2017, recovered approximately 46 pounds of marijuana and $315,000.
United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino also sentenced Sharifipour to a 4-year term of supervised release, to begin following his term of imprisonment.
This case was investigated by USPIS, HSI and IRS-CI, with assistance from the New York State Police, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emmet O’Hanlon.