ALBANY — A Schenectady man admitted in federal court this week to conspiring to distribute crack cocaine and heroin, while charges against his uncle remain pending, authorities said.
Elijah Jones, 30, admitted that he worked with others to distribute the drugs in Schenectady in 2015 and 2016. He obtained the drugs from suppliers and worked with co-defendant and uncle William Hilts to distribute those drugs to customers at a Paige Street address, according to his plea agreement.
Jones is expected to receive up to 10 years in prison at his sentencing later, though the judge will have the final say.
Jones was arrested with Hilts in March 2016. Hilts, 52, of Schenectady, has a long history of drug convictions. He was charged with four federal counts, including conspiracy to distribute. The federal case against Hilts remains pending.
Hilts has been convicted three times for drug-related offenses, twice receiving lengthy prison terms, one of which later was reduced due to drug law reforms, records show.
In one of those cases, in 2004, a Schenectady County jury convicted the self-represented Hilts of drug possession at a retrial despite the main witness failing to show up as prosecutors won the right to use the witness’s prior testimony.
This federal case was investigated by the DEA and the Schenectady County Sheriff’s Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Wayne A. Myers and Joseph A. Giovannetti.
Categories: -News-, Schenectady County
