Buffalo, N.Y. — The grim halls of justice were echoed by the sound of a guilty plea today as Lionel C. Carter, a/k/a Skip, 60, from Wellsville, NY, admitted to conspiracy charges involving methamphetamine manufacturing and distribution. Carter is now staring down the barrel of up to 20 years in federal prison following his conviction before U.S. District Court Judge Richard J. Arcara.
Carter’s crime spree, which spanned from January 2011 to October 2014, saw him engage in the sinister practice of ‘smurfing’ at local pharmacies to circumvent restrictions on pseudoephedrine purchases—a key ingredient in methamphetamine production. His sentencing is scheduled for February 10, 2016.
This marks Carter as the fourth defendant convicted out of a dozen charged in Allegany County’s methamphetamine manufacturing conspiracy. The investigation that led to his downfall was a collaborative effort between the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York State Police Community Narcotics Enforcement Team (CNET), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force, Wellsville Police Department, U.S. Border Patrol, and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan T. Cullinane is the man handling Carter’s case, underscoring the gravity of the charges with a reminder that the defendant remains presumed innocent until proven guilty.
The investigation has been a relentless pursuit of justice, and today’s plea is but another step in dismantling this criminal operation. With eight defendants still facing charges, the grimy truth behind this methamphetamine conspiracy continues to unravel.
For more information, contact Barbara Burns at (716) 843-5817 or via fax at (716) 551-3051.
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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