ALBANY, N.Y. — A Manhattan man was sentenced on Friday to 60 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine. William De La Rosa, 29, admitted to planning the distribution of 1 kilogram of cocaine earlier this year.
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.
According to the plea agreement, De La Rosa drove to a hotel in Amsterdam, New York, on January 25, 2024, intending to distribute the cocaine to another individual. Law enforcement officers, who had been monitoring his activities, conducted a search of De La Rosa’s vehicle upon his arrival at the hotel and found the kilogram of cocaine.
De La Rosa’s conviction and subsequent sentencing are part of ongoing efforts by federal authorities to disrupt the trafficking of illegal drugs in New York State. “This sentence reflects our commitment to prosecuting those who bring dangerous drugs into our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Freedman.
De La Rosa will serve five years in federal prison for his involvement in the drug distribution scheme. Following his release, he will be subject to supervised release as determined by the court.