Northern District of New York

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Ryan D. Monroe, age 41, of Watertown, New York, was sentenced yesterday to serve 130 months (10 years and 10 months) in federal prison for his conviction for possession with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine, announced United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman, Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Buffalo, New York Field Office, and Jefferson County District Attorney Kristyna S. Mills.

Monroe was arrested by members of the Metro-Jefferson Drug Task Force (“Met-Jeff”) on May 18, 2022, on bench warrants for his failure to appear in Jefferson County Court for sentencing on two New York State felony cases. Met-Jeff Detectives located Monroe in the City of Watertown as he got out of a car. A short foot pursuit ensued after which Monroe was taken into custody. A search incident to arrest located 56 grams of nearly pure methamphetamine in Monroe’s pants pocket along with $2,388.00 in U.S. currency. A shoulder bag that Monroe discarded during the foot chase was searched pursuant to a search warrant and found to contain 29 grams of cocaine, a set of digital scales, 12 grams of cocaine base (crack), and approximately 50 small plastic baggies containing individual quantities of a heroin/fentanyl mixture.

This case was investigated by the Metro-Jefferson Drug Task Force, consisting of Special Agents from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Detectives from the City of Watertown Police Department and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department, Investigators from the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office, and U.S. Border Patrol Agents. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Southwick.