Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Adler, who is handling the
case, stated that between October 2017, and December 7, 2018, the defendant
conspired with 11 others to sell cocaine. Sterling and co-defendant Edgar Pavia
brokered bulk quantity cocaine to multiple areas in the country including
Buffalo, Kentucky, and Georgia. Pavia coordinated shipments of cocaine to
Sterling in Kentucky and co-defendant Adrian Goudelock in Buffalo. For example,
on June 28, 2018, Pavia told Sterling that a shipment of 40 kilograms of
cocaine would be the last shipment at $28,000 per kilogram, since the price
would be going up. Sterling received multiple shipments of cocaine brokered by
Pavia in amounts of 10 kilograms, 15 kilograms, and 20 kilograms.
In September 2018, shortly after a shipment of cocaine was
delivered to Sterling in Louisville, KY, approximately $1,144,735 in cash,
proceeds of narcotics trafficking, was seized from a commercial truck driver in
Chicago, Illinois. Approximately $350,000 came from Sterling in Kentucky. The
money was destined to be transported back to El Paso and, eventually, Mexico.
On December 6, 2018, investigators observed Sterling meeting
with another co-defendant Martin Lopez to receive 20 kilograms of cocaine that
was inside a hidden compartment in Lopez’s vehicle. A search inside Sterling’s
vehicle found approximately $620,470 concealed in a black duffle bag. A warrant
conducted at Sterling’s residence located an additional $114,200.
Of the 12 defendants charged in this case, Sterling is the
first to be convicted. The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime
is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless
proven guilty.
The plea is the result of an investigation by Immigration
and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction
of Special Agent-in-Charge Kevin Kelly; the Federal Bureau of Investigation,
under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Robert Guyton; the New
York State Police, under the direction of Major James Hall; the Erie County
Sheriff’s Department, under the direction of Sheriff Timothy Howard; and
Customs and Border Protection, Air and Marine Unit, under the direction of
Brian Manaher, Director, Marine Operations. Additional assistance was provided
by the New York National Guard. Additional assistance was provided by
HIS-Louisville; the Kentucky State Police; the Louisville Metro Police; and the
Greater Hardin County Drug Task Force.
Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date before Judge
Sinatra.
