BUFFALO, N.Y. – A 63-year-old Florida man is looking at serious time after admitting he tried to flood Western New York with a hefty supply of high-grade marijuana. Travis Beckley, of Miami, FL, pleaded guilty today to attempt to possess with intent to distribute 50 kilograms or more of marijuana, a charge that carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a $1,000,000 fine.
The bust went down back in August 2016, but details released by Acting U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr.’s office paint a clear picture of a failed drug run. Beckley attempted to receive a shipment of approximately 145 pounds of the stuff – packed into individual one-pound bags and crammed into four barrels within three wooden crates. The crates originated in Nevada, destined for a storage locker in Erie County, NY.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Wei Xiang detailed how Beckley personally traveled from the Sunshine State to Western New York to pick up the contraband. He signed for the delivery, and that’s when the law slammed down. Officers from the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Hamburg Police Department were waiting, and Beckley was immediately arrested. No fancy footwork could save him from that.
The operation was a joint effort, with DEA Special Agent-in-Charge James J. Hunt and Hamburg Police Chief Gregory Wickett overseeing the investigation. They clearly weren’t impressed by Beckley’s attempt to move a significant amount of marijuana across state lines. The feds have been building their case for over a year, and today’s guilty plea confirms their suspicions.
Beckley’s defense didn’t appear to mount much of a fight. The guilty plea suggests he’s facing a grim outlook. The DEA and local police aren’t playing games with large-scale drug operations, and a 20-year sentence is very much on the table. This isn’t some small-time possession charge; we’re talking about a serious attempt to distribute a massive quantity of marijuana.
Sentencing is scheduled for August 28, 2017, at 1:00 p.m. before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara. Grimy Times will be there to report the final outcome. Expect a lengthy stay in a federal penitentiary for Beckley if Judge Arcara accepts the plea agreement. Contact Barbara Burns at (716) 843-5817 for further information.
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: Official Source ↗
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