BUFFALO, NY – Joshua Castro, 31, of Buffalo, has confessed to peddling “Molly,” the street name for MDMA, a Schedule I controlled substance. The guilty plea, entered before Chief U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr., brings Castro one step closer to facing a hefty prison sentence for his role in a drug conspiracy that stretched across Western New York.
According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Adler, the conspiracy unfolded between February 2015 and January 28, 2016. Castro wasn’t just a middleman; he directly sold “Molly” to a confidential source on three separate occasions – February 5th, February 18th, and March 25th, 2015. Each transaction fueled the illicit drug trade and put lives at risk.
Acting U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. didn’t mince words, signaling a firm stance against drug trafficking in the region. While the details of the broader conspiracy remain under wraps, this conviction represents a significant blow to the network that Castro was a part of. The investigation, spearheaded by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) under Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Kevin Kelly, was a multi-agency effort.
The operation extended beyond U.S. borders, incorporating the Border Enforcement Security Taskforce, which includes law enforcement from Canada: the Ontario Provincial Police, Niagara Regional Police, Peel Regional Police, and Toronto Police Services. This cross-border collaboration highlights the international reach of the drug trade and the coordinated response needed to combat it. The investigation clearly demonstrates that drug trafficking isn’t a localized problem.
Castro now faces a maximum penalty of 20 years behind bars and a staggering $1,000,000 fine. Judge Geraci will hand down the sentence on April 20, 2017, at 10:30 a.m., at which point the full extent of Castro’s punishment will be revealed. This case serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of dealing in dangerous narcotics.
Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the sentencing. For inquiries, contact Barbara Burns at (716) 843-5817 or via fax at (716) 551-3051. This is yet another example of the relentless pursuit of justice in the face of the ever-present threat of drug-related crime in the United States.
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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