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Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Harold Howard, 42, of Buffalo, N.Y., who was convicted after a jury trial of conspiracy to distribute cocaine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes, possession of firearms and ammunition while being a convicted felon, and unlawful possession of a machine gun, was sentenced to 35 years in prison.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Melissa M. Marangola and George C. Burgasser, who handled the prosecution of the case, stated that the defendant was arrested following a long term investigation by the Erie County Sheriff's Department. In November 2011, during the execution of a search warrant at 93 Elmer St. in Buffalo, law enforcement officers found three kilograms of cocaine and three loaded firearms in Howard's vehicle.
The Government presented evidence at trial that Howard transported cocaine between Atlanta, Georgia and Buffalo between 2008 and November 2011. In November 2008, the defendant was stopped in Atlanta with $104,000 and a loaded firearm. In November 2009, Howard was arrested by Buffalo Police after being stopped with cocaine and a loaded firearm. As a result, the defendant is currently serving a state sentence for possession of a firearm.
"This case is another example of the continued and successful cooperation between our Office and law enforcement partners at all levels," said U.S. Attorney Hochul. "As the sentence in this case indicates, defendants who fill the streets of our community with illegal narcotics and illegal firearms can potentially spend the rest of their natural lives behind bars."