Niagara Falls man pleads guilty to cocaine charge

BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Rashaun Dix, 38, of Niagara Falls, NY, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Stacey Jacovetti, who is handling the case, stated that in 2021, the DEA and Niagara Falls Police began investigating the cocaine trafficking activities of a known individual operating in the Niagara Falls area. During the investigation, law enforcement uncovered some interactions between this individual and Dix. In March 2022, law enforcement learned that Dix told the individual that he had some “nu-nu,” and he wanted to see what he could do with it. Dix wanted the individual to help him cook the cocaine into crack. In April 2022, law enforcement, after learning that Dix arranged to meet another individual to purchase $15,000 worth of narcotics, began to conduct physical surveillance on Dix. When Dix met with the other individual, they were both taken into custody and law enforcement seized $15,028. Law enforcement then learned that Dix told his girlfriend to “put everything in the washer and flush it…in the washer with bleach,” “not answer the door, and call the lawyer.” At that time, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Dix’s residence, recovering approximately 355 grams of cocaine, 22 grams of crack cocaine, and a digital scale.

The plea is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Frank Tarentino, New York Field Division, and the Niagara Falls Police Department, under the direction of Superintendent Nick Ligammari.

Sentencing is scheduled for March 14, 2025, before Judge Arcara.

# # # #