Buffalo Man Arrested For Retrieving Cocaine Mailed From Puerto Rico In A Lego Box

CONTACT:      Barbara Burns
PHONE:         (716) 843-5817
FAX:            (716) 551-3051

BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul Jr. announced today that Alexis Javier Centeno-Baez, 21, of Buffalo, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with conspiracy and attempt to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine.  Each count carries a minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of 40 years, and a $5,000,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Wei Xiang, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service intercepted a package shipped from Puerto Rico to an address in Buffalo. A search warrant was executed and revealed two individually wrapped kilograms of cocaine stuffed inside a LEGO box. During a controlled delivery, Centeno-Baez went to the address and retrieved the package.  When Drug Enforcement Administration Agents approached to arrest him, the defendant left the package in his car and fled on foot.  Agents pursued Centeno-Baez and apprehended him about three blocks away.

The defendant made an initial appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge H. Kenneth Schroeder, Jr. and is being held pending a detention hearing on September 2, 2015 at 10:00 a.m.

The criminal complaint is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James J. Hunt, New York Field Division, and the United States Postal Service Inspection Service, under the direction of Inspector-in-Charge Shelly Binkowski.

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.