Buffalo Woman Admits Role in Deadly Fentanyl Ring

BUFFALO, NY – Brittaney Ridgeway, 27, of Buffalo, admitted today to her part in a fentanyl distribution network that flooded the streets of Buffalo and Cheektowaga. Ridgeway pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, fentanyl – a charge that carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison and a $1,000,000 fine.

The case, spearheaded by Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy C. Lynch, reveals a brazen operation where Ridgeway worked alongside her boyfriend, Dellsean Hamilton, to push heroin and the deadly synthetic opioid fentanyl throughout Erie County. The initial break came on March 25, 2015, when Cheektowaga Police pulled over a vehicle carrying Ridgeway and Hamilton. A search turned up $2,315 in cash and a staggering 145 envelopes packed with nearly four grams of fentanyl – enough to kill many.

Investigators quickly determined that Hamilton wasn’t just a street-level dealer. He was a major heroin supplier, and Ridgeway was his key assistant. Hamilton was arrested on January 11, 2016, on related distribution charges. But the network didn’t collapse. Law enforcement discovered Ridgeway continued to operate, selling heroin even after her boyfriend’s arrest. Undercover officers conducted two controlled purchases from Ridgeway on February 4 and February 11, 2016, cementing the evidence against her.

“This wasn’t a victimless crime,” stated a source within the investigation who wished to remain anonymous. “Fentanyl is killing people in this city, and every dealer, every accomplice, is responsible for the devastation. This plea is a step towards holding them accountable.” The investigation was a joint effort between the Cheektowaga Police Department, led by Chief David Zack; the Erie County Sheriff’s Department, under Sheriff Timothy Howard; and the Drug Enforcement Administration, with Special Agent-in-Charge James J. Hunt heading the New York Field Division.

While Hamilton’s sentencing remains pending, Ridgeway’s guilty plea marks a significant victory for law enforcement battling the opioid crisis in Western New York. The DEA continues to investigate potential links to larger drug cartels. The streets of Buffalo are littered with the consequences of this trade, and authorities are determined to dismantle these networks, one dealer at a time.

Ridgeway is scheduled to be sentenced on March 20, 2017, at 12:30 p.m. before Judge Arcara. Grimy Times will be in the courtroom to provide live updates. Contact Barbara Burns for further information regarding this case: (716) 843-5817 or fax (716) 551-3051.

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