A Dunkirk woman has pleaded guilty to possessing with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of crack cocaine, according to a recent plea deal. Minerva Maestre, 49, of Dunkirk, NY, entered her guilty plea before U.S. Magistrate Judge H. Kenneth Schroder.
The charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of 40 years, and a $5,000,000 fine. The guilty plea is the result of an investigation by the Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force, under the direction of Chautauqua County Sheriff Joseph Geraci; the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge James J. Hunt, New York Field Division; and the Dunkirk Police Department, under the direction of Chief David Ortolano.
On April 28, 2017, Dunkirk Police, the Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Administration executed a search warrant at 51 E. Second Street in Dunkirk, which is the residence of the defendant. During the search, officers seized 60 grams of crack cocaine, 42 grams of cocaine, plastic baggies, and $171,962 in cash.
The defendant’s plea is the result of an investigation that uncovered a significant amount of narcotics and cash at her residence. The case will move forward with sentencing at a later date before Senior U.S. District Judge William M. Skretny.
Minerva Maestre will face a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of 40 years, and a $5,000,000 fine if she fails to comply with the terms of her plea deal. The defendant’s current status is that she has pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing.
The case highlights the ongoing efforts of law enforcement agencies to combat narcotics trafficking in the region. The Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Dunkirk Police Department have worked together to bring this defendant to justice and make our communities safer.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy C. Lynch, who stated that the search warrant was executed at the residence of the defendant on April 28, 2017.
Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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