Dashawn Abrams, Marijuana Distribution Conspiracy, New York 2015

BUFFALO, NY — A group of six individuals from Buffalo, New York have been indicted on charges of conspiracy to distribute marijuana and related offenses. The indictment, handed down by a grand jury, charges Dashawn Abrams, 26, Damarcus Hennings, 24, Shaquata Hennings, 29, Arthur Clark, 27, Shahana Beaver, 23, and Janice Humphrey, 26, with conspiracy to distribute marijuana and, with the exception of Clark and Humphrey, conspiracy to launder money.

The indictment alleges that between April 2015 and September 2015, the defendants conspired to ship, receive, and distribute over 100 packages containing marijuana between Denver, Colorado and Buffalo. The defendants also allegedly conspired to send the cash proceeds from resulting marijuana sales to the supplier in Denver.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Frank T. Pimentel stated that the investigation, led by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority Transit Police, uncovered a large-scale marijuana distribution operation in the Buffalo area.

The indictment charges the defendants with conspiracy to distribute marijuana and, with the exception of Clark and Humphrey, conspiracy to launder money. Damarcus Hennings and Beaver are also charged with related use and possession of firearms.

The drug and money laundering charges carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. The firearms charges carry a mandatory penalty of at least 5 years prison, up to life in prison, consecutive to any prison term imposed for the drug charges.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

The investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James J. Hunt, New York Field Division, and the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority Transit Police, under the direction of Chief George Gast. Additional assistance was provided by the New York State Police Community Enforcement Narcotics Team Western Region, the Buffalo Police Department, the Lackawanna Police Department, the Cheektowaga Police Department, the Hamburg Police Department, the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office, the Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Office, and the Erie County Sheriff’s Office.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdny/pr/six-indicted-marijuana-distribution-conspiracy-0