Minerva Maestre, 49, of Dunkirk, New York, admitted in federal court to possessing 60 grams of crack cocaine with intent to distribute—copping to a charge that carries a mandatory five-year prison sentence and a potential 40-year stretch behind bars.
Maestre entered her guilty plea before U.S. Magistrate Judge H. Kenneth Schroder, admitting she held at least 28 grams of crack cocaine, the threshold that triggers harsh federal sentencing laws. The charge also exposes her to a $5 million fine, according to prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York.
The takedown unfolded on April 28, 2017, when a joint task force comprising the Dunkirk Police, the Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force, and the Drug Enforcement Administration raided Maestre’s home at 51 E. Second Street. Inside, agents seized not only the 60 grams of crack cocaine but also 42 grams of powdered cocaine, a cache of plastic baggies used for distribution, and a staggering $171,962 in cash.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy C. Lynch, who is prosecuting the case, said the evidence points to a structured drug operation running out of the residence. The seizure of baggies and bulk cash, he noted, is textbook proof of intent to sell—not personal use.
The investigation was led by the Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force under Chautauqua County Sheriff Joseph Geraci, with critical support from DEA Special Agent-in-Charge James J. Hunt, New York Field Division, and Dunkirk Police Chief David Ortolano. Federal authorities have emphasized their commitment to dismantling mid-level distribution networks in rural and suburban areas.
Sentencing is pending and will be handled by Senior U.S. District Judge William M. Skretny. With no plea deal details disclosed, Maestre now faces the full weight of federal drug laws—a fate that could land her in prison for decades.
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: Official Source ↗
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