Wilkie, Nowak, Rodriguez Nabbed in $9M Cocaine Ring

Acting U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced the arrest of three men in Buffalo, NY, for their involvement in a major cocaine distribution ring with ties to Mexico.

James Wilkie, 67, Remus Nowak, 47, and Fernando Rodriguez, 51, are charged with conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and distribute over five kilograms or more of cocaine. Each faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life, and a $10,000,000 fine.

‘This case illustrates that the threat associated with the illegal flow of controlled substances across the Mexican Border is very real even here in Western New York,’ Kennedy said.

DEA Special Agent-in-Charge James J. Hunt emphasized coordination in the two-day enforcement operation, which resulted in 48 kilograms of cocaine being taken off the streets.

According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel L. Violanti, the DEA received information about the ring in February 2017 and identified Wilkie, Nowak, and Rodriguez as key members. They smuggled cocaine from Mexico into Arizona and distributed it across the United States.

Wilkie was stopped by Illinois State Police with 48 kilograms of cocaine; a controlled delivery led to the arrests of Nowak and Rodriguez. All are being detained pending a hearing on February 28, 2017.