Oswego County man sentenced to 72 months in prison for drug and gun convictions

Date: August 20, 2025

Contact: newsroom@ci.irs.gov

Utica, NY — James Hamilton of Central Square, New York, was sentenced today to 72 months in prison for conspiring to distribute cocaine, possessing cocaine with the intent to distribute, and possessing multiple firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking offenses. Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division, made the announcement.

As part of his previously entered guilty plea, Hamilton admitted that from early 2021 until March 2022, he acquired more than four kilograms of powder cocaine that he either sold or possessed with the intent to sell. Hamilton further admitted unlawfully possessing nine firearms, including an AR-15-style rifle, for the purpose of protecting his drug supply and drug proceeds.

Senior United States District Judge David N. Hurd also imposed a 4-year term of supervised release to begin after Hamilton is released from prison.

Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III said, “Cocaine is a dangerous and addictive drug, and James Hamilton distributed large quantities of it into his community for profit. He also possessed firearms in connection with his drug dealing that could have injured or killed other people. With our law enforcement partners, we will continue to target and prosecute dangerous drug dealers like him.”

DEA Special Agent in Charge Frank A. Tarentino III stated, “The trafficking of illicit drugs and guns often results in acts of violence that endangers entire cities. The DEA remains committed to working with our partners to eliminate these criminal networks and protect the public from all harm in their communities.”

This case was investigated by Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Criminal Investigation, DEA, the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the Syracuse Police Department, the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office, the New York State Police, the Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Sutcliffe prosecuted this case.

This case is also part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) is the law enforcement arm of the IRS, responsible for conducting financial crime investigations, including tax fraud, narcotics trafficking, money laundering, public corruption, healthcare fraud, identity theft and more. IRS-CI special agents are the only federal law enforcement agents with investigative jurisdiction over violations of the Internal Revenue Code, obtaining a 90% federal conviction rate. The agency has 19 field offices located across the U.S. and 14 attaché posts abroad.