Ruby Ledesma, Marijuana and THC Distribution, New York 2024

ALBANY, NY – Ruby Ledesma, 25, of Fresno, California, admitted today to her role in a sprawling, multi-state marijuana and THC trafficking operation that flooded the country with illicit drugs for over six years. Ledesma pled guilty to conspiring to distribute marijuana and tetrahydrocannabinols (THC) in a federal courtroom, bringing a key piece of this network to justice.

Federal prosecutors revealed the operation spanned from 2016 to June 2022, with thousands of kilograms of marijuana and THC shipped from Fresno to locations across the United States, including the New York Capital Region. The shipments were brazenly carried out through major carriers UPS and FedEx, originating from a shipping store called Fast Pack & Ship in Fresno. This wasn’t a mom-and-pop operation; it was a carefully constructed logistical pipeline.

The ownership of Fast Pack & Ship proved to be a rotating door for key players in the conspiracy. Initially owned by Ledesma’s brother, Sammy Olague, from 2016 through June 2018, the business was then sold to Nehemiah Fane, aka “Neil.” Olague allegedly received a portion of the purchase money from Dwight A. Singletary, II, aka “Nutt” and “Mike Jones,” and James Tyrell Daniels, aka “Red” and “Ghost,” assisted in managing the store under Fane’s ownership. In April 2020, Fane transferred ownership to Singletary’s partner, McKenzie Merrialice Coles, aka “Kenzie,” operating through M.M.M.C. Management, Inc. Ledesma worked directly with all of these individuals to facilitate the shipping of the illegal substances.

The scope of the conspiracy extended beyond just bulk marijuana. Ledesma also arranged for Singletary to obtain large quantities of THC “edibles,” which were then pushed onto the streets. This highlights the organization’s adaptability and willingness to diversify its product line to maximize profits. The investigation, led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Troy Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), has exposed a complex web of connections and criminal activity.

Ledesma is one of 20 individuals indicted in connection with the marijuana distribution and money laundering conspiracies, as well as associated firearms offenses. Singletary, Coles, Fane, and Daniels have all pled not guilty and await trial, maintaining their presumption of innocence. Olague and five other defendants – Rosemary Coles, Latrice Mumphrey, Jazell Shuler, Victor Turner, and Kristle Walker – have previously entered guilty pleas and are awaiting sentencing. Their fates will be determined in the coming months.

This case is part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) program, a multi-agency initiative aimed at dismantling major drug trafficking organizations. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cyrus P.W. Rieck and Dustin C. Segovia are prosecuting the case, demonstrating a concerted federal effort to combat large-scale drug trafficking operations and the networks that enable them. The investigation continues, with authorities vowing to bring all those involved to justice.

Related Federal Cases