News
Release
Date:
February 09, 2012
Erin McKenzie-Mulvey
Public Information Officer
212 337-2906
Nine
Charged With Participating In Long Running
Drug Enterprise Said To Control Area
on the East Side of Buffalo
Buffalo,
New York —Drug Enforcement
Administration (DEA) Acting Special Agent
in Charge of the New York Field Division
Wilbert L. Plummer and U.S. Attorney William
J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that a federal
grand jury has returned a 33 count indictment
charging Theresa Anderson, 58, of Buffalo,
N.Y., and eight others with participating
in a drug enterprise allegedly operating
for over ten years. The indictment further
charges that the Anderson drug trafficking
organization, comprised of immediate family
and close friends of Theresa Anderson,
effectively controlled narcotics trafficking
on two streets in Buffalo, New York in
this time period.
The
indictment accuses Anderson of operating
a continuing criminal enterprise, conspiracy,
operating a narcotics manufacturing premise,
and specific incidents of narcotics trafficking.
These charges are punishable by a mandatory
minimum sentence of 20 years and a maximum
sentence of life in prison and a $10,000,000
fine. In addition to Anderson, the indictment
charges Steven Butler, 28; Dion Anderson,
31; Melvin Calhoun, 47; Anquensha Hodge,
a/k/a Anne Anderson, 25; Wymiko Anderson,
a/k/a Red, 37; Toshia Hodge, a/k/a Toshia
Anderson, 28; Tajia Anderson, a/k/a Porkchop,
26; and Leo Mellerson 29; all of Buffalo,
N.Y., with conspiracy, and drug trafficking.
These charges carry a mandatory minimum sentence
of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence
of life and a $10,000,000 fine.
Assistant
U.S. Attorney Melissa M. Marangola, who is
handling the case, stated that according
to the indictment, between 2000 and February
2012, the defendants operated an illegal
drug trafficking organization in the area
of Swinburne and Deshler Streets in the City
of Buffalo. The indictment further alleges
that defendant Theresa Anderson was the leader
of the organization who obtained and supplied
quantities of cocaine to other members of
the organization who then sold the cocaine
in on the streets.
Also
according to the indictment, several defendants
purchased multiple properties on Swinburne
and Deshler Streets, enabling the organization
to monopolize crack cocaine sales in the
area. The Indictment also alleges that the
defendants threatened and intimidated rival
narcotics traffickers in order to monopolize
narcotics sales in the area. Under this system,
the defendants sold narcotics 24 hours a
day, seven days a week.
DEA
Acting Special Agent in Charge Wilbert L.
Plummer stated, “DEA’s goal is
to keep our communities not only here in
Buffalo, but nationwide safe from drug abuse
and the violence and crime associated with
drug trafficking. This law enforcement
effort and arrests have taken away nine violent
crack cocaine traffickers off the streets
of the Buffalo area today.” Mr.
Plummer would like to thank all the departments
and law enforcement organizations who participated
in this investigation.
"Today's
indictment carries two powerful messages," said
U.S. Attorney Hochul. “First,
to those engaged in any form of organized
criminal activity – you are being targeted
and your days are numbered. Second,
to residents in our community – law
enforcement is committed to protecting you,
your families, and your property. If
you see something, say something. Today’s
case is not only a credit to our law enforcement
partners, it is also an example of how the
public and police can work together to rid
our streets of predators.”
Today’s
indictment and arrest operation marks the
third major operation against organized criminals
and narcotics gangs this year alone. The
Indictment is the culmination of an investigation
on the part of the Drug Enforcement Administration,
under the direction of under the direction
of Wilbert L. Plummer, Acting Special Agent
in Charge, New York Field Division, the Buffalo
Police Department, under the direction of
Commissioner Daniel Derenda, and the New
York State Police, under the direction of
Major Christopher Cummings.
The
fact that a defendant has been charged with
a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant
is presumed innocent until and unless proven
guilty.
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