Buffalo Man Indicted On Drug And Money Structuring Charges

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

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that a federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Brandon Washington, 31, of Buffalo, NY, with possession with intent to distribute cocaine and money structuring. The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life, and a $10,000,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney John M. Alsup, who is handling the case, stated that according to the indictment, the defendant was arrested as a result of a long term investigation into cocaine trafficking in the Buffalo area. The indictment further states that Washington deposited large amounts of cash into accounts with Bank of America. But the way in which the defendant structured the deposits caused the financial institution to fail to file proper financial reports.

The defendant was arraigned this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge H. Kenneth Schroeder, Jr. Hill. He is being held pending a detention hearing on March 6, 2015 and 2:00 p.m.  

The indictment is the culmination of an investigation on the part of Special Agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of James J. Hunt, Special Agent in Charge, New York Field Division and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. 

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.