SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Eric F. Jackson, aka “The Mexican,” aka “Pops,” age 48, of Syracuse, pled guilty Wednesday to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and distribution of 50 grams or more methamphetamine.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division.
As part of his guilty plea, Jackson admitted that beginning no later than May 2020 through April 2021, he conspired with others to transport methamphetamine from California to locations in the Northern District of New York, including Syracuse, for distribution. Jackson admitted that in furtherance of the conspiracy, in December 2020, a coconspirator drove with approximately 4.6 kilograms of pure methamphetamine from California destined for Syracuse but was intercepted by police and arrested in Oklahoma City. Jackson also admitted that he arranged for methamphetamine to be shipped by a common carrier to addresses in the Syracuse area, which were provided by coconspirators. In addition to participating in the conspiracy, Jackson admitted that he personally distributed more than 50 grams of pure methamphetamine to another individual in Syracuse. Jackson further admitted that at the time of his arrest in April 2021, at a small convenience store on Park Street in Syracuse, New York, he possessed approximately $17,460 in drug proceeds, and more than 350 grams of pure methamphetamine, which he intended to distribute.
At sentencing, on each count, Jackson faces a maximum potential sentence of life imprisonment, a mandatory minimum term of ten years’ imprisonment, a maximum lifetime term of supervised release, a mandatory minimum term of five years’ supervised release, and a maximum fine of $10,000,000. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statutes the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.
This case is being investigated by DEA, U.S. Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), New York State Police-Violent Gang and Narcotics Enforcement Team (NYSP-VGNET), Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office, Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office, Syracuse Police Department, Oklahoma City Police Department, San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew J. McCrobie.