Drug Kingpin Sentenced to 22 Years in Prison

BUFFALO, N.Y. – Mohamed Taher, 34, of Lackawanna, N.Y., was convicted of operating a continuing criminal enterprise in a jury trial that wrapped up last week. Taher is facing a mandatory minimum sentence of 22 years in prison and a maximum of life.

The 22-year sentence is the result of Taher’s conviction on charges of operating a continuing criminal enterprise, conspiracy to import marijuana into the United States, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana, false statements, and aggravated identity theft. The charges stem from a four-week trial that concluded last week in front of Chief U.S. District Judge William M. Skretny.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Timothy C. Lynch and Joel L. Violanti stated that between late 2005 and May of 2007, Taher operated a criminal enterprise that employed five or more individuals. The enterprise imported marijuana into the United States from Canada, and then distributed the marijuana to customers in Detroit, Chicago, and Buffalo. In furtherance of the defendant’s enterprise, Taher utilized fraudulent identifications to enter into Canada to meet with his associates and his marijuana supplier.

Taher also made false statements to Customs and Border Protection Officers when he claimed to be another individual when he was encountered at the U.S.-Canada border. The investigation that led to Taher’s conviction was a collaborative effort between the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, Customs and Border Protection, the New York State Police, the Michigan State Police, and the Willoughby Hills, Ohio Police Department.

Taher was not the only one involved in the operation. Five other defendants, Abdulfatah Mosed, Salah Mohamed Ahmed, Basheer Saleh, Yasin Abdulla, and Bradley Parry, were previously convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana and are awaiting sentencing.

The conviction of Taher and his associates is a major blow to the organized crime syndicate that operated in the Buffalo area. The group’s activities have been brought to a halt, and the community is safer as a result. “Today’s verdict, combined with previous convictions obtained in this case, remove the ring leader and members of a criminal enterprise and illegal drugs from the streets of our community,” said U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. “Because these defendants can no longer harm our neighborhood, today is truly a good day for the residents of this community.”

Taher is set to be sentenced on October 24, 2013 at 9:00 a.m. in front of Judge Skretny. The verdict is a significant milestone in the ongoing fight against organized crime in the Buffalo area.

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