Buffalo Man Nelson Pacheco Gets 9 Years for Cocaine Conspiracy

Nelson Pacheco, 44, of Buffalo, NY, is headed to federal prison for nearly a decade after being sentenced to 108 months for his role in a cocaine distribution conspiracy that flooded parts of Western New York with narcotics between late 2010 and early 2011. The hard-fought conviction, delivered by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara, marks a significant blow to a drug network that operated under the radar for months.

Pacheco was found guilty of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, a charge stemming from a coordinated operation with co-defendant Dennis Berard. According to Assistant U.S. Attorney George C. Burgasser, the duo worked together from December 2010 until April 4, 2011, moving bulk quantities of cocaine through the Buffalo area, exploiting local street-level networks to expand their reach.

The investigation took a sharp turn on June 30, 2011, when federal agents executed a search warrant at Pacheco’s residence. Inside, they uncovered three loaded handguns, ammunition, and approximately $18,000 in cash—evidence prosecutors argued pointed to both the violent potential and financial reach of the operation. The firearms added a dangerous edge to the case, signaling readiness for confrontation in the drug trade’s brutal economy.

Dennis Berard, Pacheco’s partner in the conspiracy, was previously convicted and sentenced, dismantling the leadership of the ring. Authorities say the pair operated with precision, using coded communication and shifting distribution points to avoid detection—tactics that ultimately failed under sustained federal scrutiny.

The takedown was the result of a joint investigation led by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Border Enforcement Security Task Force, under Special Agent-in-Charge James C. Spero. Local agencies, including the Niagara Falls Police Department and the Niagara County Sheriff’s Department, played pivotal roles, with Chief Bryan DalPorto and Sheriff James Voutour overseeing critical field operations.

Acting U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr., emphasized that the sentence sends a clear message: drug traffickers who arm themselves and profit from addiction will face maximum consequences. Pacheco now begins a 108-month sentence in federal custody, with no room for early redemption on charges that poisoned communities and fueled violence.