BUFFALO, NY – Kristie Boncore, 24, of Buffalo, took a plea deal today, admitting her role in a heroin distribution network that flooded the city’s West Side. Boncore pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of heroin before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara. The charge carries a hefty maximum penalty of 20 years behind bars and a $250,000 fine.
Federal prosecutors, led by Assistant U.S. Attorney George C. Burgasser, laid out the case: between April 2014 and September 28, 2015, Boncore wasn’t just a bystander. She actively conspired with Hector Carattini and others to push heroin onto the streets. The investigation wasn’t based on hunches. It relied on hard evidence – court-ordered wiretaps and undercover buys conducted by the New York State Police Community Narcotics Enforcement Team (CNET) and the Buffalo Police Department.
Boncore was one of ten defendants initially charged as a “runner” – a street-level distributor – in a larger operation masterminded by Daniel Molina-Rios. Molina-Rios, along with Orlando Rios, Luis Montanez and Jose Andujar, were all arrested in June 2015. The organization wasn’t reliant on a single source. They sourced heroin from New York City, but also maintained a local supply to keep the product flowing. This wasn’t a small-time operation; it was a calculated effort to profit from addiction.
This case represents a significant blow to a major drug operation in Western New York. While Boncore is the first to fall, she’s not the last. A total of 14 defendants have been indicted in connection with this heroin ring, and charges remain pending against the others. The feds aren’t letting up, and more convictions are expected.
The successful investigation was a joint effort. The Drug Enforcement Administration, under Special Agent-in-Charge James J. Hunt, spearheaded the federal side, working alongside the New York State Police CNET (led by Major David Krause and Lieutenant Kevin Reyes) and the Buffalo Police Department under Commissioner Daniel Derenda. This wasn’t a solo act; it was a coordinated takedown.
Boncore’s sentencing is scheduled for August 7, 2017, at 12:30 p.m. before Judge Arcara. While a guilty plea is a step, it doesn’t erase the damage done. The Grimy Times will be there to report the final outcome and continue to track the remaining defendants in this case. Remember, an indictment is not proof of guilt, but Boncore’s plea speaks volumes.
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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