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Press Release

Leaders Of Drug Trafficking Organization Plead Guilty

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of New York

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

ROCHESTER, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Michael Wyatt, 38, of Rochester, New York, and Andre Cunningham, 25, also of Rochester, pleaded guilty, before Chief United States District Court Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr., to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and distribute, 40 grams or more of fentanyl, 28 grams or more of cocaine base, and heroin, For Wyatt, the charge carries a minimum penalty of 10 years imprisonment, a maximum penalty of life imprisonment and an $8,000,000 fine. For Cunningham, the charge carries a minimum penalty of 5 years imprisonment, a maximum penalty of 40 years imprisonment and a $5,000,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. McGrath, who is handling the case, stated that Wyatt and Cunningham were leaders of a drug trafficking organization that distributed significant quantities of fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine base throughout the Rochester, New York area. Wyatt would obtain bulk quantities of those controlled substances from various suppliers. After obtaining bulk quantities of the aforementioned drugs, Wyatt and Cunningham supervised and directed the distribution and sale of those controlled substances to individual drug users, at various drug houses maintained for that purpose in the City of Rochester. The drug houses were operated by members of the conspiracy, including but Wyatt, Cunningham, and others. The locations of the drug houses included 218 Emerson Street, Rochester, New York and 131 Saratoga Avenue, Rochester, New York. At the direction of Wyatt or Cunningham, members of the conspiracy would process, break down, and re-package the controlled substances into smaller quantities to be sold to individual drug users out of 218 Emerson Street and 131 Saratoga Avenue.

The plea is the result of an investigation by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge John B. Devito, New York Field Division; the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Todd K. Baxter; and the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief La’Ron D. Singletary.

Sentencing is scheduled before Chief Judge Geraci, Jr., for August 5, 2019, at 2:00 p.m. for Michael Wyatt, and 3 p.m. for Andre Cunningham.

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Updated April 24, 2019

Topics
Drug Trafficking
Opioids