Will Johnson, Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine, New York 2010
BUFFALO, N.Y. - In a major blow to the Western New York cocaine trade, 32-year-old Will Johnson of League City, Texas, was sentenced to 10 years in prison and five years supervised release for his role in a cocaine distribution and money laundering conspiracy.
Johnson, who was convicted of conspiracy to distribute kilograms of cocaine and conspiracy to commit money laundering, was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge William M. Skretny on unspecified date.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Catherine Baumgarten, who handled the case, revealed that Johnson distributed kilograms of cocaine from the Houston area to other individuals who then distributed the cocaine in Buffalo and other areas of Western New York.
In July 2010, law enforcement officers executed search warrants at several locations, including an apartment leased by Johnson in Missouri City, Texas, and his residence at 1546 Viejo Drive in League City, Texas. The officers seized cocaine, plastic wrappers consistent with packaging for multiple kilograms of cocaine, $55,000 in U.S. currency, a .44 caliber loaded handgun, and boxes of assorted ammunition.
Johnson also deposited and transferred funds generated from his drug trafficking through and to financial institutions. He paid approximately $13,000 to Maxx Auto Sales in Buffalo to purchase a 2004 Escalade motor vehicle and arranged for cash deposits of $20,000 into bank accounts, which were then used as a down payment for his residence at 1546 Viejo Road in League City, Texas. As part of his sentence, Johnson will forfeit $203,000 in cash.
This conviction is one of 20 that resulted from a wide-ranging drug investigation led by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Internal Revenue Service, and the Niagara County Drug Enforcement Task Force.
Johnson's case serves as a reminder of the ongoing efforts to combat the cocaine trade in Western New York and the importance of cooperation between law enforcement agencies in bringing those responsible to justice.
Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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