Capital District Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 168 Months for Leading Methamphetamine Conspiracy

ALBANY, NEW YORK - Felix Arencibia, age 40, of Amsterdam, New York, was sentenced today to 168 months' imprisonment and five years of post-imprisonment supervised release for conspiracy and methamphetamine distribution charges in connection with his distribution and possession with intent to distribute more than 5 kilograms of pure methamphetamine and fentanyl.

First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III; Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) New York Enforcement Division Special Agent in Charge Farhana Islam; and acting Inspector in Charge Jason Buckley of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Boston Division, made the announcement.

As part of his guilty plea, Arencibia admitted that between November 2022 and July 2023, he received through the United States mail at least 5,615 grams of pure methamphetamine from Christian Mur-Santana, his Nevada-based drug supplier. Arencibia then distributed the methamphetamine to drug dealers in the Capital District.

First Assistant U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III stated: "Thanks to the outstanding work of our partners at the Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, this defendant is no longer able to traffic dangerous narcotics into our community. Dismantling the sophisticated operation run by this individual and his co-conspirators underscores the critical role of federal law enforcement working together to deliver justice for the American people. The U.S. Postal Service is a vital part of our nation's infrastructure, not a tool for criminal organizations to exploit."

"The sentencing of Felix Arencibia, who operated a significant drug trafficking organization responsible for distributing methamphetamine and fentanyl throughout the Capital District, marks the end of his ability to poison our communities," stated DEA New York Enforcement Division Special Agent in Charge Farhana Islam. "Mr. Arencibia exploited the U.S. Postal Service to facilitate his drug trafficking network, fueling addiction and placing profit above human life. The DEA and our law enforcement partners remain steadfast in identifying, targeting, and dismantling those who abuse our nation's mail system to distribute deadly narcotics. We will continue pursuing those who profit from addiction and work tirelessly to protect the people of New York."

"Today's sentencing is an example of the resolve of U.S. Postal Inspectors and their law enforcement partners to uncover and bring to justice drug traffickers who, through their network of criminal enterprise, prey on our communities" said acting Inspector in Charge Jason Buckley of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Boston Division. "We will not tolerate these criminals distributing lethal substances such as fentanyl, destroying the lives of many who fall victim to addiction and despair. Let this be a warning that no matter where you are, you will be held accountable for your illegal activity, restoring safety to the communities we serve."

Arencibia was the leader of the organization comprised of eight additional defendants charged in this investigation. The following defendants have pled guilty and have been sentenced or are pending sentencing:

• Andrew Deleon was sentenced to 72 months imprisonment, to be followed by a 3-year term of supervised release
• Stefanie Plass was sentenced to 24 months in prison, to be followed by a 3-year term of supervised release
• Ahmad Burke was sentenced to 14 months in prison, to be followed by a 3-year term of supervised release
• Todd Austin was sentenced to 78 months in prison, to be followed by a 3-year term of supervised release
• Kevisha Duboise is scheduled to be sentenced on August 13, 2026.
• Flor Arencibia is scheduled to be sentenced on July 10, 2026.
• Melissa Karwan is scheduled to be sentenced on July 15, 2026.
• Christian Mur-Santana is scheduled to be sentenced on July 9, 2026.

These cases were investigated by the DEA and USPIS. Assistant United States Attorney Joshua R. Rosenthal is prosecuting the cases.

This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. he HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Buffalo comprises agents and officers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Alcohol, Tabacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Internal Revenue Service (IRS/ CID), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), Customs and Border Protection/ Office of Border Patrol (CBP/ OBP), Customs and Border Protection/ Office of Field Operations (CBP/ OFO), DEA, Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS), U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), USPIS, U.S. Secret Service (USSS), Department of State/Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of New York.