BUFFALO, N.Y. – A California man has been busted for his involvement in a massive marijuana and money laundering conspiracy, and faces up to 40 years in prison and a $5 million fine.
James Parish, 31, of Carlsbad, California, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 100 kilograms or more of marijuana and money laundering conspiracy before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara.
The investigation, led by the DEA and the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority Police, uncovered a complex scheme in which Parish sent packages of marijuana from California to Western New York, where it was distributed and more than $800,000 in proceeds was shipped back to him.
During the investigation, authorities seized over $500,000 in cash, including $66,705, $77,000, and $224,123. They also found 30 pounds of marijuana in two large boxes shipped from California to the Buffalo area.
Parish was arrested at the Buffalo Niagara International Airport on September 30, 2014, as he was attempting to collect $600,000 in payments for the shipped marijuana. A search of his hotel room revealed a stash of weapons, including an AirSoft gun, a taser, a bulletproof vest, and a GPS tracking device.
Co-conspirator Benjamin Golembiewski has previously pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy and is pending sentencing.
Parish faces a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison and a $5 million fine for the marijuana distribution conspiracy, and up to 20 years in prison and a $2 million fine for the money laundering conspiracy.
Sentencing is scheduled for December 9, 2015, at 1:00 p.m. before Judge Arcara.
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|Cybercrime|Public Corruption|Weapons|Human Trafficking|White Collar Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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