Buffalo Man Pleads Guilty to Drug Conspiracy Charge

BUFFALO, N.Y.-- U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Pascual Giovanny Navarro-Gonzalez, 29, of Buffalo, NY., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara, to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute heroin and cocaine.  The charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of 40 years, a $5,000,000 fine, or both.

            Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Catherine Baumgarten, who is handling the case, stated that Navarro-Gonzalez was one of three men arrested on March 6, 2012 after law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at his residence at 39 Montclair Avenue in Buffalo. Officers seized heroin, cocaine, ammunition, and drug paraphernalia. During the investigation, several purchases of heroin were made from Navarro-Gonzalez.

            Co-defendants Erick Joel Reyes Barretto and Juan Montanez previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin and cocaine. Reyes Barretto was sentenced to 60 months in prison, and Montanez is scheduled for sentencing on October 4, 2013.

            The plea is the culmination of an investigation on the part of Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Brian R. Crowell, New York Field Division, the Erie County Sheriff’s Department, under the direction of Sheriff Timothy Howard, and the Ohio State Highway Patrol, under the direction of Colonel John Born.

            Navarro-Gonzalez is scheduled to be sentenced on November 22, 2013 at 12:00 p.m. before Judge Arcara.