Buffalo Man Sentenced On Drug Charge

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

BUFFALO, N.Y. – Acting U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that David Varner, 57, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of maintaining a drug involved premises, was sentenced to time served and three years of supervised release by Senior U.S. District Judge William M. Skretny.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy C. Lynch, who handled the prosecution, stated that between April of 2011 and April 3, 2013, the defendant allowed his co-defendants to utilize his apartment, which was located on the grounds of the Perry Housing Projects, to manufacture, possess, and distribute crack cocaine. Varner’s apartment was one of several locations on the grounds of the Perry Housing Projects in Buffalo, which were maintained by members of the conspiracy in furtherance of their drug trafficking activities.

On April 3, 2013, law enforcement officers executed search warrants at 124 Fulton Street and 305 Perry Street during which they recovered over 300 grams of cocaine base and 700 grams of powered cocaine as well as a firearm.  Varner was arrested in April 2013 along with 10 others. All defendants have been convicted.

The sentencing is the culmination of an investigation on the part of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Safe Streets Task Force, under the direction of Adam S. Cohen, Special Agent-in-Charge, the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Steven Nigrelli, and the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Daniel Derenda.