If convicted on the narcotics charge, Dudus or 'Presi' faces a maximum sentence of life in prison and a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, as well as a fine of up to US$4 million or twice the money he made from the offence.
He also faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison on the firearms trafficking charge, and a fine of up to US$250,000 or twice the money he made.
The Americans claim that Coke leads an international criminal organisation known as the 'Shower Posse', with members in Jamaica, the United States and other countries.
They further allege that Coke has led the criminal gang since the early 1990s and, at his direction and under his protection, members of the organisation sold marijuana and crack cocaine in the New York area and elsewhere.
It is further alleged that Coke and unnamed co-conspirators arm their organisation with illegally trafficked firearms.
Coke has been named by the US Department of Justice to the list of 'Consolidated Priority Organisation Targets' which it says includes the world's most dangerous narcotics kingpins.
Want to take assets
Against that background, the Americans want to send Coke to prison for a long, long time while taking away any asset which they believe he acquired through his criminal network.
But that day of reckoning seems a long way off for the events promoter and businessman who has been the 'big man' in Tivoli Gardens for more than a decade.
He was once included on a list of alleged troublemakers given to the police by then Member of Parliament Edward Seaga.
But Coke avoided that ordeal and has since managed to avoid other attempts to link him to organised crime, while operating legitimate businesses such as the Presidential Click.
Now the Americans say they have sufficient evidence to charge Coke and nine co-conspirators.
Before Coke appears in any American court, the Ministry of Justice has to decide if it accepts that the US has presented solid information on which he is to be extradited.
The justice ministry is not yet convinced and has written to the US authorities requesting more and better particulars on the extradition request.
If, or when Justice Minister Dorothy Lightbourne puts pen to paper and approves the extradition request, the police will then have to arrest the west Kingston strongman who enjoys the respect and possibly the love of the vast majority of persons in Tivoli Gardens and neighbouring communities.
Even those opposed to Dudus credit him with keeping a level of order in west Kingston which has prevented some of the bloody conflicts which have cropped up in communities all across the island.
After being arrested locally, Coke will also have the option of challenging the extradition request in the local courts. So Dudus is a man under pressure but that is a battle which is only in the warm-up round.