Salamanca Woman Sentenced in Heroin Conspiracy

Amber Crouse, of Salamanca, NY, was sentenced to time served—17 months—after being convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin. The sentence, handed down by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford, marks the end of a two-year narcotics probe that exposed a daily street-level distribution ring feeding addiction in Buffalo.

Crouse’s co-defendant, Carlos Laboy, pleaded guilty to the same charge before Judge Wolford. The crime carries a mandatory minimum of five years in federal prison, a maximum of 40 years, and a $5,000,000 fine. Laboy is scheduled for sentencing on March 14, 2017, at 2:00 p.m. in Buffalo federal court.

According to Assistant U.S. Attorney George C. Burgasser, Crouse and Laboy ran a relentless heroin operation between February 2013 and February 2015. They sold to confidential sources, including one informant who claimed to have bought heroin from the pair every single day for a full year—fueling addiction and endangering the community.

The operation came crashing down on February 5, 2015, when federal agents executed a search warrant at a Gorton Street residence in Buffalo. Both Crouse and Laboy were present. Police recovered multiple baggies laced with heroin residue and three cell phones, one of which was used exclusively to coordinate drug deals with buyers.

The case was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration under Special Agent in Charge James J. Hunt, New York Field Division. The investigation relied on wiretaps, controlled buys, and surveillance that painted a clear picture of a well-organized, persistent drug conspiracy rooted in Western New York.

Acting U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. emphasized that the convictions send a message: federal authorities are cracking down on heroin networks that exploit vulnerable populations. With opioid deaths soaring, prosecutors say cases like Crouse and Laboy’s are not just about punishment—but public safety.