Buffalo Man Indicted On Drug 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 and indictment charging Rashawn Crule, 40, of Buffalo, NY, with possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of heroin, possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, maintaining a drug involved premises, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. The charges carry a minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of life and a $1,000,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan Tokash, who is handling the case, stated that according to the indictment, between October 2, 2015 and November 2, 2015, the defendant possessed with intent to distribute and distributed various illegal narcotics including heroin, crack cocaine and cocaine. The indictment further states that Crule maintained a premises at 98 Gillette Avenue in Buffalo for the purpose of manufacturing, distributing and using these illegal narcotics. The defendant also allegedly possessed a 9mm handgun. Following a 2002 conviction in Erie County Court, Crule is prohibited from possessing a firearm. 

Crule made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge H. Kenneth Schroeder, Jr. and was released on bail.

The indictment 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, the New York State Police Community Narcotics Enforcement Team (CNET), under the direction of Major David Krause and Lieutenant Kevin Reyes, CNET West Commander, and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Air and Marine Unit, under the direction of Brian Manaher, Director, Marine Operations. 

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.