BUFFALO, N.Y. – The streets of Buffalo’s West Side are marginally cleaner today after Miguel Manso, 46, was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison. Manso, a key player in the notorious Loiza Boys gang, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute heroin. Senior U.S. District Judge William M. Skretny handed down the sentence, a small victory in a long war against the relentless flow of poison into this city.
The case, brought by Acting U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr., stems from a lengthy investigation launched in 2013. Federal agents uncovered a heroin and cocaine operation that had been plaguing the West Side since at least 2006. The Loiza Boys weren’t just dealing; they were embedding themselves, poisoning a community. Assistant U.S. Attorney Wei Xiang detailed the gang’s operation during sentencing, painting a picture of calculated criminality.
The investigation wasn’t a quick bust. It involved wiretaps, painstakingly piecing together conversations that revealed the inner workings of the drug ring. Undercover officers also made crucial buys, directly linking the gang to the product flooding the streets. The haul? Over 450 grams of heroin, three firearms – tools of the trade – and a staggering $70,000 in U.S. currency. That’s the profit margin on misery, folks.
While Manso received a significant sentence, his accomplice, Ellis Colon, 32, received time served for his conviction of misprision of a felony. Colon knew about the operation and actively concealed it, aiding and abetting the Loiza Boys. A lighter sentence for an enabler is a bitter pill, but the focus remains on dismantling the entire network. Nine of the ten original defendants have now been convicted, a testament to the dedication of the investigators.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation Safe Streets Task Force, led by Special Agent-in-Charge Adam S. Cohen, spearheaded the investigation. They’ve chipped away at the Loiza Boys, but one defendant, Josbel Garcia, still has pending charges. Remember, an accusation isn’t proof. Garcia, like all defendants, is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. But the feds are watching.
This sentencing isn’t the end. It’s a temporary reprieve. The Loiza Boys, or others like them, will try to fill the void. The fight for Buffalo’s streets is a constant one, and Grimy Times will be here to report every dirty detail.
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Organized Crime|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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