Buffalo Woman Convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine Base

   BUFFALO, N.Y.--U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Kayla Renee Combs, 24, of Buffalo NY pleaded guilty before United States District Court Judge Richard J. Arcara to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute cocaine base.  The charge carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years, a $5,000,000 fine, or both.

            Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary C. Baumgarten stated that the charges stem from an investigation into the trafficking of cocaine base and cocaine from the Cleveland, Ohio area into Western New York, and the distribution of those drugs in North Tonawanda, Niagara Falls, Lockport, and Buffalo.  The charges in the indictment against co-defendants Nathaniel Clark, 29, of Niagara Falls, NY, Raysean Clark, 27, of Buffalo, NY, and Tommy Eugene Clark, 26, of Niagara Falls, NY, remain pending.  Combs is the first defendant convicted in this case.

The plea is the culmination of an investigation on the part of Task Force Agents and Special Agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Brian R. Crowell, in conjunction with the Niagara County Sheriff's Department and Niagara County Drug Task Force, under the direction of Sheriff James Voutour, and the North Tonawanda Police Department, under the direction of Chief William Hall.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.