Buffalo Man Pleads Guilty To Drug Charge

 BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Jerome C. Crosby, 58, of Buffalo, N.Y., pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara. The charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life, and a fine of $2,000,000.

Assistant United States Attorneys Mary Clare Kane and George C. Burgasser, who are handling the case, stated that the defendant was intercepted over New York State wiretaps, on numerous occasions, arranging to acquire and purchase cocaine from Wallace Peace and other defendants. Search warrants executed during the investigation resulted in the seizure of 17 firearms, more than five kilograms of cocaine powder and in excess of 200 grams of crack cocaine.

Crosby was arrested along with 30 other defendants in July 2008. To date, 27 have been convicted.

The plea is the culmination of an investigation on the part of Special Agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of James J. Hunt, Acting Special  Agent in Charge, New York Region; Special Agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of Thomas J. Cannon, Special Agent in Charge; and the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Daniel Derenda.

Sentencing is scheduled for June 9, 2014 at 12:30 p.m. before Judge Arcara.