Syracuse, N.Y. — A Watertown man faces 10 years to life in prison for attempting to buy drugs in Syracuse to sell in the North Country, prosecutors say.
Stuart Chambers, 44, pleaded guilty in federal court Monday for attempting to possess and distribute methamphetamines and cocaine in January, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York.
Chambers came to Syracuse in January to buy one pound of methamphetamines and 10 ounces of cocaine, DEA agent David Proud said in a criminal complaint filed in January.
When the DEA received information that Chambers was coming to buy drugs from a person, they swapped out the drugs with a “sham” substance that Chambers ended up buying, Proud said.
Chambers was observed by DEA buying the sham dugs and was arrested, according to the complaint. Chambers confessed during an interview to paying $9,000 for what he thought was methamphetamines and cocaine that he intended to sell, Proud said in the complaint.
His sentencing is scheduled for August 20 in Syracuse and, according to prosecutors. He faces a mandatory minimum federal prison sentence of 10 years and a maximum sentence of life and could pay a fine of up to $8,000,000, they say.
Chambers was previously convicted in federal court in Pennsylvania for possessing controlled substances with the intent to distribute, prosecutors said.
Staff writer Timia Cobb covers breaking news. Have a tip, a story idea, a question or a comment? You can reach her at tcobb@syracuse.com.