BUFFALO, NY – Nikita Burt, 39, of Buffalo, is headed to federal prison after being sentenced to 21 months for his role in a crack cocaine distribution ring, authorities announced Tuesday. Burt was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, the highly addictive drug.
According to federal prosecutors, Burt acted as a supplier to co-defendant David Garrett, who allegedly peddled the crack cocaine to an individual cooperating with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Between November and December 2021, the DEA managed three controlled purchases of the drug directly from Garrett, building a case against the entire operation.
The bust culminated on January 12, 2022, when DEA agents raided Burt’s vehicle and his residence on Mortimer Street, believed to be a drug storage location. The search of Burt’s vehicle yielded $2,334 in cash. But the discovery inside the Mortimer Street residence painted a more dangerous picture: three defaced handguns.
One of the recovered firearms was directly linked to Burt through DNA analysis, adding weapons charges to his already significant drug trafficking offenses. This detail suggests a willingness to arm himself while engaged in illegal activity, raising concerns about the potential for further violence.
U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo handed down the 21-month sentence, signaling the seriousness with which the federal court views drug trafficking and illegal firearms possession. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy C. Lynch.
The investigation was a joint effort between the DEA’s New York Field Division, led by Special Agent-in-Charge Frank A. Tarentino III, the Buffalo Police Department, under Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), with Special Agent-in-Charge John B. Devito overseeing the ATF’s involvement in the New York Field Division. The coordinated operation highlights the ongoing federal commitment to dismantling drug networks and stemming the flow of illegal weapons onto the streets of Buffalo.
Related Federal Cases
- King Convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute Heroin Cocaine and Metha… · California
- Mark Thompson, Wire Fraud and Conspiracy, New York NY, 2023 · Ohio
- Buffalo Police Officers Under Investigation for Fatal Shooting, Buf… · New Mexico
- Lance Woods, Second Degree Murder, Buffalo NY, 2023 · New York
- Vivek Ramaswamy Rejects VP Offer, Focusing on Presidential Ambition… · Florida
Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Weapons
- Source: Official Press Release
Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
US NewsUS NewsUS NewsUS News