Ronnie Charleston, Cocaine Distribution, Gun Charges, New York 2020

Buffalo Man Pleads Guilty To Gun And Drug Charges

BUFFALO, N.Y. - Ronnie Charleston, 37, Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge H. Kenneth Schroeder, Jr. to possessing with intent to distribute cocaine, and being a felon in possession of ammunition. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine.

According to Assistant U.S. Attorneys Laura A. Higgins and Richard Antoine, on six separate occasions between December 2019 and January 2020, Charleston purchased approximately 49 grams of cocaine from co-defendant Saan Thompson. On August 5, 2020, investigators executed a search warrant at Charleston's residence and seized approximately 1,500 rounds of assorted ammunition, three firearm magazines, $5,000 U.S. currency, approximately 12 grams of cocaine, and three digital scales. In 2006, Charleston was convicted in state court of Criminal Possession of a Loaded Firearm – Third Degree and is legally prohibited from possessing ammunition.

Saan Thompson was previously convicted and is awaiting sentencing.

The plea is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Erie County Sheriff's Office, and the Buffalo Police Department.

Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date.

The defendant, Ronnie Charleston, is a 37-year-old resident of Buffalo, New York. Charleston pleaded guilty to possessing with intent to distribute cocaine and being a felon in possession of ammunition. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdny/pr/buffalo-man-pleads-guilty-gun-and-drug-charges-3