Man Pleads Guilty To Selling Crack Cocaine At A Public Housing Facility

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

BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Nafese J. Sanford, 27, of Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine before U.S District Judge Richard J. Arcara. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1,000,000.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura A. Higgins, who is handling the case, stated that on three separate occasions between July 13 and August 8, 2018, law enforcement officers conducted three controlled purchases of crack cocaine from the defendant. The purchases were conducted at the Parkview Tower Apartments, a public housing facility in Lackawanna, NY.

On August 22, 2018, law enforcement officers set up another controlled purchase with Sanford. As he arrived at the Parkview Tower Apartments, officers performed a traffic stop of the defendant after observing him commit a traffic violation. During the stop, Sanford was arrested at the scene.

Today’s plea is the result of an investigation by the Lackawanna Police Department, under the direction of Chief James Michel, and the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Ray Donovan, New York Field Division.

Sentencing is scheduled for August 12, 2019, at 12:30 p.m. before Judge Arcara.

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