Methamphetamine - Credit: DEA  file photo

May 30, 2023 - ALBANY, NEW YORK – Roderick Meskell, age 53, of Sacramento, California, was sentenced today to 87 months in prison for his role in a drug trafficking organization that distributed crystal methamphetamine in Saratoga County in 2020. 

United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement.

In previously pleading guilty, Meskell admitted that from June 2020 through October 2020, he worked with others, including co-conspirators Ali Hassan Ahmed III and Jordan D. Lopez, to transport and distribute Mexican cartel-sourced crystal methamphetamine from Sacramento to redistributors in Saratoga County.  In total, the organization trafficked approximately 5 kilograms of methamphetamine.

United States District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby also ordered Meskell to serve a 5-year term of supervised release following his release from prison.

Lopez previously pled guilty in connection with the conspiracy and was sentenced to 78 months in prison.

Ahmed III has also pled guilty in connection with the conspiracy, and faces at least 10 years and up to life in prison, a term of supervised release between 5 years and life, and a maximum fine of $10 million.  A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statutes the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.

The FBI and the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office investigated this case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Emmet O’Hanlon is prosecuting this case.
Source: DOJ Release