Buffalo Man Sentenced In Heroin Trafficking Conspiracy

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

BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy announced today that Luis Montanez, 39, of Buffalo, NY, was sentenced, by Chief U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr., to serve 151 months in prison for his role in a conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and distribution of 100 grams or more of heroin.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan A. Tokash, who handled the case, stated that between March 2014, and June 2015, the defendant conspired with Daniel Molina-Rios, Orlando Rios, and Jose Andujar, and others to distribute heroin on the West Side of Buffalo. Rios managed a wide-scale drug trafficking organization and supervised several street-level dealers who used a series of cellular telephones to conduct daily sales with customers seeking to buy heroin.

During the last three weeks or so of the conspiracy, defendant served as a heroin source of supply for the drug trafficking organization.  The Buffalo Police Department and New York State Police conducted 66 undercover heroin purchases from individuals subordinate to the defendant in the organization.

The defendant also maintained a premise at 221 Gorton Street in Buffalo for distributing heroin. A search of that residence on June 18, 2015, revealed a box of glassine bags for heroin distribution and two digital scales indicative of drug traffickers.

Of the 14 defendants charged in connection with this case, Montanez is the 13th to be sentenced.

The sentencing 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; the New York State Police Community Narcotics Enforcement Team (CNET), under the direction of Major David Krause and Lieutenant Kevin Reyes, CNET West Commander; and the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Daniel Derenda.