Buffalo, NY – In a shocking case of family ties and crime, a grandmother who headed a notorious crack cocaine organization has seen her last loyal family member sent to prison.
Léo Mellerson, the boyfriend of Theresa Anderson’s daughter Toshia, was sentenced to 15 months in prison by U.S. District Court Judge Richard J. Arcara for conspiracy to distribute and distribution of crack cocaine. Mellerson was one of nine family members arrested in February 2012 for their roles in the crime ring.
The group, led by Theresa Anderson, a wife, mother and grandmother, had controlled drug sales on Swinburne and Deshler Streets in the City of Buffalo, using intimidation and violence to monopolize the market. In a bid to maintain their grip on the area, they even purchased several homes to store and sell the illicit narcotics.
According to authorities, between 2000 and February 2012, Anderson’s organization distributed large quantities of crack cocaine, with Mellerson selling the substance to an undercover police officer on two separate occasions in 2011.
“Today’s sentencing brings to a conclusion the successful prosecution of this group of individuals who attempted to destroy a city neighborhood,” said U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. “Theresa Anderson, a wife, mother and grandmother, destroyed not only her family through her illegal narcotics trafficking but also the streets where the drug trafficking took place.”
As part of the investigation, authorities seized over $50,000 in U.S. Currency and approximately nine houses used by the drug organization. Theresa Anderson was sentenced to 188 months in prison in November 2013, marking the culmination of the lengthy investigation.
“This case is a testament to the tireless efforts of law enforcement agencies in Buffalo and beyond,” said U.S. Attorney Hochul. “We will continue to target and dismantle organizations like this, bringing those responsible to justice and reclaiming our communities from the scourge of crime.”
The investigation was a joint effort between the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Buffalo Police Department, and the New York State Police, highlighting the importance of collaboration in combating organized crime.
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
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