Buffalo Man Pleads Guilty To Selling Cocaine

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

BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Brandon Washington, 35, of Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge H. Kenneth Schroeder to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute, and to distribute, between five and 15 kilograms of cocaine. The charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life, and a $5,000,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel L. Violanti, who is handling the case, stated that between June 2011 and November 2014, the defendant obtained multi-kilogram amounts of cocaine from California, then distributed the cocaine to others in the Buffalo area. In addition, during the same time frame, Washington structured cash deposits, in amounts under $10,000, in an effort to hide the proceeds of his illegal drug sales, and avoid the bank reporting requirements for cash deposits over $10,000. 

The plea 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.

Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date.