James Tyrell Daniels, Marijuana Trafficking & Money Laundering, New York 2022

A nationwide marijuana trafficking and money laundering conspiracy has been brought to a close with three guilty pleas. James Tyrell Daniels, aka 'Red' and 'Ghost,' 40, of Fresno, California, Consanga Harris, aka 'Sondy,' 63, of Troy, New York, and Earnest Flood, aka 'Pop,' 66, of Richmond, Virginia, each pleaded guilty to offenses related to their involvement in the nationwide marijuana trafficking and money laundering conspiracies.

According to court documents, Daniels, Harris, and Flood admitted to being members of a marijuana and tetrahydrocannabinols (THC) trafficking organization that cultivated marijuana on a commercial scale in Fresno, California, and shipped thousands of kilograms of marijuana and THC from Fresno to locations throughout the United States, including the Capital Region of New York.

Daniels admitted to working with Dwight A. Singletary II, aka 'Nutt' and 'Mike Jones,' to cultivate marijuana in two grow houses behind his home and in a commercial warehouse in Fresno. The marijuana grow in the warehouse was financed in substantial part by Singletary, and on June 15, 2022, law enforcement executed a search warrant at the warehouse and seized, among other things, 424 marijuana plants at various stages of maturity in five commercial-grow rooms.

The packages of marijuana, which reflected the names of fake shippers, were shipped from Fast Pack & Ship to locations throughout the United States, including the Capital Region, New York City, and other parts of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, Ohio, Delaware, Nevada, Virginia, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas. Between April 2017 and June 2022, approximately 1,292 packages containing approximately 7,068 kilograms, or 15,582 pounds, of marijuana were shipped from Fast Pack & Ship to the Capital Region alone.

Daniels also laundered marijuana proceeds through bank accounts he owned and controlled, including business accounts held by his company BRDL, LLC, and by receiving money transfers in Fresno purchased with cash marijuana proceeds. Harris admitted to receiving packages of marijuana shipped by Singletary and Coles.

The guilty pleas were announced by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Bryan Miller, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF); Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division; Troy Police Chief Daniel DeWolf; and Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

Mandatory Facts:

Defendant: James Tyrell Daniels, aka 'Red' and 'Ghost.'

Criminal Charges: Offenses related to involvement in nationwide marijuana trafficking and money laundering conspiracies.

City and State: Fresno, California, and Troy, New York.

Exact Date: Yesterday (no specific date mentioned).

Sentence or Outcome: Pled guilty to offenses related to involvement in nationwide marijuana trafficking and money laundering conspiracies.

Dollar Amounts: Approximately 7,068 kilograms, or 15,582 pounds, of marijuana were shipped from Fast Pack & Ship to the Capital Region alone.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndny/pr/three-plead-guilty-nationwide-marijuana-trafficking-and-money-laundering-conspiracies