Chicopee Man Convicted of Possessing Cocaine in Public Housing Facility

April 17, 2010 - BOSTON, MA—A Chicopee man was convicted today in federal court of possession with intent to distribute cocaine in a public housing authority facility.

United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz; Warren T. Bamford, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation - Boston Field Division; Matthew J. Etre, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Boston Field Division; Massachusetts State Police Colonel Marian J. McGovern; Chicopee Police Chief John R. Ferraro, Jr. and Hampden County District Attorney William M. Bennet, announced today that JOSE ANTONIO FELIX-ROBLES, 31, pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Michael A. Ponsor to one count of possession with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine in a public housing authority facility.

At today’s plea hearing, the prosecutor said that had the case proceeded to trial, the government’s evidence would have proven that on October 30, 2009, agents executed a search warrant at 112 Elcon Drive in Chicopee, a housing facility of the Chicopee Housing Authority. When agents first approached the address, FELIX-ROBLES attempted to elude capture by exiting through the rear of the apartment. FELIX-ROBLES then encountered an agent assigned to cover the rear of the apartment, and he retreated towards the front of the apartment, where he was arrested by the agents. They determined that FELIX-ROBLES was the only individual in the apartment, and located approximately one kilogram of cocaine in the living room, concealed within a blood pressure monitor box inside a grocery bag.

FELIX-ROBLES was taken into custody by ICE officials for an outstanding order of deportation dated January 15, 2003. During an interview, he told agents that shortly before the search warrant was executed, he was attempting to sell the cocaine to another individual.

FELIX-ROBLES faces up to 80 years' imprisonment, to be followed by eight years of supervised release and a $4 million fine. Sentencing is scheduled for July 15, 2010.

The case was investigated by the FBI and ICE. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven H. Breslow of Ortiz’s Springfield branch office.