Buffalo Man Pleads Guilty For His Role In Cocaine Conspiracy

CONTACT:      Barbara Burns
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BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Corey Bradberry, Jr., 35, of Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. The charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of 40 years, and a $5,000,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan A. Tokash, who is handling the case, stated that between May 2016 and June 2017, the defendant conspired with others to operate a wide-scale cocaine distribution network in Niagara Falls and Lockport.

Bradberry regularly purchased drugs from co-defendant Ramone Westbrook for the purpose of resale, typically obtaining approximately an ounce of cocaine per week from Westbrook with the intention of distributing it to numerous other individuals. Between April 20, 2017, and May 17, 2017, the defendant and Westbrook communicated by telephone at least 235 times, during which they discussed cocaine trafficking and arranged cocaine transactions. During one call, Bradberry told Westbrook to hurry up because he had five people waiting.

On May 17, 2017, the defendant sold cocaine to an individual working with the Drug Enforcement Administration. On May 24, 2017, law enforcement officers executed a New York State search warrant at Bradberry’s residence on Niagara Street in Niagara Falls, NY, and seized cocaine, a digital scale with white residue, and $250.00 in cash.

Co-defendants Ramone Westbrook Rico Freeman, and Darius Dix were all previously convicted.
 
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge James J. Hunt, Special Agent Shane Nastoff, and Task Force Officer Eric Herrington; the Lockport Police Department, under the direction of Chief Michael Niethe; the Niagara County Drug Task Force, under the direction of Sheriff James Voutour; the Niagara Falls Police Department, under the direction of Superintendent Bryan DalPorto; and the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Byron Lockwood. 

Sentencing is scheduled for September 21, 2018, at 10:00 a.m. before Judge Vilardo.