Patnode's Residence Questioned After Arrest

A “Hogansburg” man is facing federal drug charges after being caught in Oswego County with 110 pounds of cocaine.

Jake Patnode, 24, was charged on Saturday, February 10, 2018 with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Syracuse.

According to a criminal complaint filed in Syracuse, Oswego County sheriff’s deputies seized approximately 50 kilograms (110 pounds) of cocaine from a vehicle driven by Patnode. He was stopped going northbound on Interstate Route 81 in the Town of Hastings late Saturday evening after being observed exceeding the posted speed limit.

Patnode appeared in federal court on Monday and was ordered held without bail, pending a hearing scheduled for Thursday, the U.S. attorney said.

The charge carries a minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum sentence of life in prison, a fine of up to $10,000,000 and a term of supervised release of at least five years and up to life, the U.S. Attorney’s office said.

A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the federal sentencing guidelines and other factors.

This case is being investigated by U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Oswego County Sheriff’s Office, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Levine.

Virtually every news outlet in the Northern New York covered the arrest of Jake Patnode. Immediately Indian Time, along with Akwesasne community residents and the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe, called various agencies and offices to question and verify Patnode’s legal residence.

Indian Time learned from DOJ’s Northern District of New York, AUSA Richard Southwick that Patnode provided a New York State driver’s license as proof of identification, and it had a Hogansburg address.

According to a Watertown Daily Time’s ‘The Public Record’, Patnode’s address was listed as 17 Tracy St., Massena, NY in March 2011, and his own Facebook, to this day, has him living in Massena. From what Indian Time gathered it appears Patnode is from Massena, New York, but allegedly resides in Akwesasne.

According to NYS Dept. of Motor Vehicle office in Massena, NY, an individual does not need to provide any type of verification of residence to make a change of address on a NYS driver’s license.

Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Police Chief Matt Rourke verified Jake Patnode is not a registered SRM Tribal member. Rourke also stated the SRMTP participated as task force members in this investigation.