ALBANY, N.Y. — A Queens man who conspired to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine in and around Kingston and other areas of Ulster County was sentenced to five years and three months in federal prison, prosecutors said Monday.

Cecilio Wareham, 48, was sentenced on Monday, May 11, by U.S. District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino. His sentence will be followed by a three-year term of supervised release.

Wareham’s sentence stems from his conviction for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine. Wareham previously admitted to supplying his co-conspirator, Greg Tejada, 48, of Highland Lakes, New Jersey, with cocaine for redistribution, including over two kilograms of cocaine that were seized from Tejada in October 2024.

Tejada faces a term of 10 years to life in federal prison, authorities said. Seven others, including three Ulster County residents, await sentencing.

The announcement was made by Ulster County Sheriff Juan Figueroa, First Assistant U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III, and Homeland Security Investigations New York Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Alfonso, according to a press release. Figueroa’s office leads the Ulster Regional Gang Enforcement Narcotics Team (URGENT).

In April 2025, 10 defendants, including Wareham, were indicted for their roles in drug trafficking organizations that distributed large quantities of cocaine and crack cocaine in and around Kingston and other areas of Ulster County. The organizations are alleged to have distributed more than 11 kilograms of cocaine and hundreds of grams of cocaine base, federal prosecutors said.

The arrests followed the execution of search warrants in Ulster County and additional enforcement actions, resulting in law enforcement seizing more than five kilograms of cocaine and 270 grams of cocaine base.

In a statement, Figueroa said, “Removing the threat of dangerous narcotics trafficking in our county is one of the main directives of the URGENT task force. Illegal drug use in our county leads to other serious crimes.” He thanked federal, state and local “partners for the collaboration and hard work in this case.”

In the release, Sarcone said Wareham “will spend the next 63 months in federal prison due to his role in a distribution network poisoning our streets. Wareham and his accused associates were identified and indicted thanks to strong collaboration between law enforcement partners at the local and federal levels. Together their efforts uncovered this operation and have removed these deadly drugs from our streets.”

The remaining defendants, including three Ulster County residents, are charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance. They face the following minimum and maximum terms of imprisonment upon conviction:

* Damon Dunn, aka “Moe,” 48, of Tillson, faces a sentence of 10 years to life in prison.

* Aidan White, 23, of Kingston, faces a sentence of five to 40 years in federal prison,

* Raymond Robinson, 53, of Kingston, faces up to 20 years in federal prison.

The other defendants and the minimum and maxium terms of imprisonment they face upon conviction are Richard Johnson, 35, of New York, who faces 10 years to life; Kevin Dunn, 52, of New York, who faces five to 40 years; Kristine Scibelli, 41, of Middletown, who faces five to 40 years; Xavier Patterson, aka “Xay,” 28, of New York, who faces five to 40 years; and Allen McGraw, 44, aka “Snoop,” who faces up to 20 years.

Additionally, Dunn and Robinson, along with Tejada, Scibelli, Patterson and Johnson, are charged with distribution of a controlled substance. White and Dunn are charged with possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.

This case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations; the Ulster County Sheriff’s Office, in conjunction with URGENT, the FBI, and the state police Special Investigations Unit at Valhalla.

Assistant U.S. attorneys Paul DerOhannesian and Douglas Collyer are prosecuting the cases.