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Press Release

Lewiston man pleads guilty to Marijuana conspiracy

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of New York

BUFFALO, N.Y.--U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Kevin C. Farrell, 30, of Lewiston, N.Y., pleaded guilty to conspiring to possess and distribute over 50 kilograms of marijuana before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, a fine of $1,000,000, or both. The defendant will also forfeit $100,000 in cash or property.

            Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert C. Moscati, who is handling the case, stated that between 2002 and April 2010, Farrell conspired with David Davis to purchase 1/2 lb and 1 lb quantities of marijuana from Davis. The defendant then redistributed the marijuana in smaller quantities to a number of customers in Niagara County. Similar charges against David Davis are pending.  

            The plea is the culmination of an investigation on the part of Special Agents of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of James C. Spero; the Drug Enforcement Administration,  under the direction of Brian R. Crowell, Special Agent in Charge, New York Field Division; the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Michael Cerretto; the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Daniel Derenda; the Niagara County Sheriff's Department, under the direction of Sheriff James Votour; the United States Border Patrol, under the direction of Chief Border Patrol Agent Kevin W. Oaks; Customs and Border Protection, under the direction of James Engleman, Director of Field Operations; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of Frank Christiano; the Niagara Falls Police Department, under the direction of Chief Bryan DalPorto; the Department of Defense, Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, under the direction of Special Agent in-Charge Edward T. Bradley; Toronto Police Services, under the direction of Chief William Blair; Niagara Regional Police, under the direction of Chief Jeffrey McGuire; Peel Regional Police, under the direction of Chief Jennifer Evans; Ontario Provincial Police, under the direction of Commissioner Chris Lewis; and the Canada Border Services Agency, under the direction of Rick Comerford, Regional Director General.

            Sentencing is scheduled for January 13, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. before Judge Arcara.

Updated November 18, 2014