Buffalo Man Pleads Guilty To Marijuana Charge

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

BUFFALO, N.Y.--U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Keith Goss, 47, of Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty to attempted possession with intent to distribute 100 kilograms or more of marijuana before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara. The charges carry a minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of 40 and a $5,000,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas S. Duszkiewicz, who is handling the case, stated that on June 12, 2013, the defendant attempted to take possession of a crate which was to be delivered to an address on Fillmore Avenue in Buffalo after being shipped from Tucson, Arizona. The crate contained 315 pounds of marijuana valued in excess of $250,000. Law enforcement officers intercepted the crate of marijuana before it was delivered to the Fillmore Avenue address where the defendant was awaiting its arrival with his two sons. Goss had asked his sons, who were not aware of its contents, to pick up the package. 

The plea 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 Tonawanda Police Department, under the direction of Jerome C. Uschold III, with the assistance of the DEA Office in Nogales, Arizona.  

Sentencing is scheduled for June 13, 2016 at 1:00 p.m. before Judge Arcara.