Terence Butler, a 36-year-old resident of Schenectady, New York, has been sentenced to 96 months in prison for his involvement in drug trafficking and money laundering. The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Michael McCarthy, Special Agent in Charge of the Newark Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
Butler admitted to orchestrating the acquisition and distribution of drugs from Beverly Hills, California, to Schenectady. On January 4, 2023, authorities intercepted a package containing 1.65 kilograms of cocaine sent by Butler from California. Later that year, on August 3, another package bound for Schenectady containing approximately 10,000 fentanyl pills and 5,000 methamphetamine pills was seized before delivery.
Additionally, Butler confessed to directing two individuals to transfer $35,000 in drug proceeds back to his supplier over December 2022 and January 2023.
Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III remarked on the severity of Butler’s actions: “Terence Butler brought a significant amount of lethal drugs into the Capital District. Now he will be serving a significant amount of prison time for his crimes.”
Michael McCarthy from HSI commented on the operation: “Terence Butler orchestrated a bold and dangerous operation… He has now been held accountable for his reckless disregard for public safety.”
The sentence also includes a four-year term of supervised release and forfeiture of $77,427 in drug proceeds as ordered by United States District Judge Anne M. Nardacci.
The case was investigated by HSI with prosecution led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Reiner. It is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation aimed at dismantling high-level criminal organizations threatening the United States.
