Judgment unanimously affirmed. Memorandum: Defendant's contention that his guilty plea to the lesser crime of criminal possession of a controlled substance was not voluntarily and knowingly made because of his unfamiliarity with the English language is without merit in view of the fact that the plea minutes indicate that an interpreter was present and assisted defendant throughout the entire proceeding (see, People v Quezada, 145 A.D.2d 950, 951; People v Herrera, 107 A.D.2d 1040). The record establishes that defendant's guilty plea was knowingly, intelligently and voluntarily entered (see, People v Francis, 38 N.Y.2d 150; People v Nixon, 21 N.Y.2d 338, 353, cert denied sub nom. Robinson v New York, 393 U.S. 1067).