Damian Ard, a 33-year-old Lockport man, was sentenced to six years in prison for his role in a cocaine trafficking operation in Western New York.
BUFFALO, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced that Damian Ard was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, cocaine base. The conviction stems from a long-term investigation into narcotics trafficking in Niagara County and the City of Buffalo conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Niagara County Drug Taskforce.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Catherine Baumgarten stated that Ard was arrested as a result of the investigation, which involved several court-authorized wiretaps, including two cellular telephones used by Ard to conduct his drug-trafficking. The defendant distributed cocaine base, cocaine, heroin, prescription medications, and marijuana in the Lockport area from early 2009 through August 2010, some of which was supplied to him by co-defendant Eric Williams.
During the execution of a federal search warrant at Ard’s residence on August 17, 2010, law enforcement officers seized a Remington Model 597 rifle, two .22 caliber rifle magazines and a .22 caliber high capacity magazine; a RML 7.62 x 39 caliber semi-automatic rifle, two magazines and ammunition; a New England Firearms Pardner Model SBI 20 gauge shotgun, and ammunition.
The sentencing is the culmination of an investigation by Task Force Officers and Special Agents of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Brian R. Crowell, Special Agent in Charge, New York Field Division, and the Niagara County Sheriff’s Drug Task Force, under the direction of Sheriff James Votour.
Twenty-four defendants were charged in connection with the investigation, with 23 of them convicted. The leader of the narcotics trafficking operation, Will Johnson, was sentenced to 10 years in prison on September 13, 2013.
In a separate statement, Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Catherine Baumgarten praised the efforts of law enforcement agencies involved in the investigation, saying, ‘The conviction and sentencing of Damian Ard is a significant blow to the narcotics trafficking operation in Western New York. We will continue to work tirelessly to dismantle these organizations and bring perpetrators to justice.’
The sentencing of Damian Ard is a reminder of the serious consequences of narcotics trafficking and the importance of community cooperation in preventing crime.
RELATED: Lockport Sex Trafficker Sentenced to 78 Months
RELATED: Lockport Sex Trafficker Sentenced to 78 Months
Related Federal Cases
- Michael Danzey Sentenced for Leading Fentanyl & Cocaine Ring · New York
- Sununu Declares War on Trump’s GOP Grip · New Hampshire
- Wall Street Bailout: NY & CA Lose $2 Trillion · North Carolina
- “K Money” Crumbles: Wall St. Pretender Admits $2M Scam · New York
- PPE Lie: Edison Execs Plead Guilty to $10M Scam · Ohio
Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|Sex Crimes|Cybercrime|Public Corruption|Weapons|Human Trafficking|White Collar Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
