Fentanyl Trafficker Going To Prison

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

ROCHESTER, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Cardell Richardson, 33, of Chili, NY, who was convicted of possession with intent to distribute 10 grams or more of para-flourofentanyl, was sentenced to serve 90 months in prison by U.S. District Judge David G. Larimer.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Moynihan, who handled the case, stated that in June and July of 2021, investigators purchased suspected fentanyl from Richardson on three separate occasions. On July 22, 2021, investigators searched Richardson’s residence on Forsythia Drive in Chili, seizing multiple quantities of fentanyl and para-flourofentanyl, a fentanyl analogue, as well as nearly $4,000 in cash, a digital scale and drug packaging material.  Richardson, who was arrested outside his residence, was found with 76 decks of para-flourofentanyl and $590 in his possession. 

The matter was brought by the United States Attorney’s Office as part of its Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative.  PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Greater Rochester Area Narcotics Enforcement Team and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge John B. DeVito, New York Field Division.

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