Syracuse man sentenced to 15 years for drug conspiracy and distribution

 

Date: November 23, 2022

Contact: newsroom@ci.irs.gov

Syracuse, NY — Eric F. Jackson, aka "The Mexican," aka "Pops," of Syracuse, was sentenced Tuesday to 180 months in prison for his leadership of a drug-trafficking organization that distributed methamphetamine in Onondaga County and elsewhere in Central New York.

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 prior 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.

United States District Judge David N. Hurd also ordered Jackson to serve a 5-year term of supervised release to follow his release from prison, the forfeiture of the $17,460 of seized currency, and ordered Jackson to pay a money judgment of $1,300.

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 (New York) Sheriff's Office, Onondaga County District Attorney's Office, Syracuse Police Department, Oklahoma City Police Department, San Bernardino County (California) Sheriff's Office, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew J. McCrobie.