Seven people have been arrested and charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, methamphetamine and cocaine in Buffalo, New York.
The indictment, announced by U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr., charges Steven Bennett, 42, of Buffalo, NY; Chandra Woods, 29, of Los Angeles, California; Jessica Lopez, 32, of Buffalo, N.Y.; Phillip Keomongkoun, 26, of Buffalo, N.Y.; Malcom Bull, 21, of Jamestown, N.Y.; Nikki Lillard, 49, of Buffalo, N.Y.; and Guy Burt with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, methamphetamine and cocaine, and money laundering conspiracy.
The charges carry a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison, a maximum of 40 years, a $5,000,000 fine or both.
According to the indictment, between July 2012 and January 2013, Steven Bennett was a supplier of methamphetamine and cocaine. Bennett shipped the drugs from California to Buffalo for distribution by his co-defendants. He made numerous trips to Buffalo to coordinate the shipments and further distribute the drugs.
This investigation was conducted by members of the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Brian R. Crowell, New York Field Division, the Erie County Sheriff’s Department, under the direction of Sheriff Timothy Howard, the Cheektowaga Police Department, under the direction of Chief David Zack, and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Toni Weirauch.
The indictment is the result of a highly successful investigation that focused on a narcotic which is only beginning to be seen in the area and involved an organization that was seeking to create a market for this dangerous drug.
The fact that law enforcement was able to conclude this investigation in such a short period of time is to be commended, said U.S. Attorney Hochul.
The DEA’s Special Agent in Charge, Brian R. Crowell, stated that this organization was attempting to establish a customer base for Mexican methamphetamine and cocaine in the Western New York area. He emphasized that meth use destroys families, communities, and is extremely dangerous to the public, and that any organization attempting to traffic meth is a top priority for the task force.
The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|Cybercrime|Public Corruption|Weapons|Human Trafficking|White Collar Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
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