ALBANY, N.Y. – A 71-year-old Troy, New York woman has confessed to being a key cog in a nationwide marijuana and THC trafficking operation, federal authorities announced today. Rosemary Coles pled guilty to conspiring to distribute over 1,000 kilograms of marijuana and tetrahydrocannabinols (THC), effectively admitting to years of illicit activity that spanned from California to the Capital Region.
The operation, according to court documents, involved large-scale cultivation in Fresno, California, with shipments of thousands of kilograms of marijuana and THC regularly dispatched across the country. Coles wasn’t growing the weed, she was a crucial distribution point. Between August 2018 and May 2022, Coles received approximately 104 packages – totaling a staggering 811 kilograms (1,788 pounds) – at her Troy home. She also coordinated receiving shipments for associates Victor Turner and JuneAllyson Osman, aka “Juney,” at their respective Troy residences.
The packages weren’t shipped discreetly. Investigators found the contraband was routinely concealed in dog food containers and suitcases, sealed with common eBay packing tape. Dwight A. Singletary II, aka “Nutt,” and Coles’ daughter, McKenzie Merrialice Coles, aka “Kenzie,” were responsible for shipping the packages from a Fast Pack & Ship store in Fresno. David Singletary, aka “DB,” then picked up the shipments from Coles’ home. For her role, Coles was paid between $300 and $400 per package, routinely handing out cash to Turner and Osman. Turner and Osman received approximately 53 and 30 packages, respectively, totaling 382 kilograms and 226 kilograms of marijuana.
But Coles’ involvement didn’t stop at simply receiving and distributing marijuana. She also admitted to selling THC “edibles” that were shipped from Fresno by her daughter, McKenzie Coles. This isn’t a small-time operation; it’s a family business built on moving illegal narcotics. The scale of the operation suggests a sophisticated network with significant financial backing, and the ATF, DEA, Troy Police Department, and Homeland Security Investigations are all involved in the ongoing investigation.
Coles now faces a minimum of 10 years and potentially a life sentence in prison, along with a maximum fine of $10 million. She’ll also be subject to at least five years – and potentially a lifetime – of supervised release. Sentencing will be determined by a judge considering federal statutes, sentencing guidelines, and other relevant factors. Coles was indicted alongside Dwight and David Singletary, McKenzie Coles, Turner, Osman, and 18 other individuals, all accused of marijuana distribution, money laundering, firearms offenses, and other crimes.
While Coles has confessed, others named in the indictment maintain their innocence. Turner and three other defendants – Kristle Walker, Latrice Mumphrey, and Sammy Olague – have already pled guilty and are awaiting sentencing. This case is part of a larger Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation, highlighting the federal government’s commitment to dismantling large-scale drug trafficking organizations. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cyrus P.W. Rieck and Dustin C. Segovia are prosecuting the case.
Related Federal Cases
- Anthony Wills, Marijuana Trafficking and Money Laundering, NY 2016 · Illinois
- Phoumano Duangtavilay, Marijuana Trafficking, NY 2023 · California
- Dwight A. Singletary II, Marijuana Trafficking, Nationwide 2023 · California
- Dwight A. Singletary II, Marijuana Trafficking, California 2016 · California
- Onisha Smith, Marijuana Trafficking, New York 2024 · California
Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Press Release
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