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Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX: (716) 551-3051
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul Jr. announced today that Omar Aponte Vellon a/k/a Chambo, 29, of Puerto Rico, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with attempt to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. The charge carries a minimum penalty of 5 years and maximum penalty of 40 years in prison and a $5,000,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Wei Xiang, who is handling the case, stated that, on two separate occasions in March 2016, federal law enforcement officials intercepted a package being shipped from Puerto Rico to a particular residence on the East Side of Buffalo. Each of the two packages contained approximately half a kilogram of cocaine. On March 25, 2016, the defendant accepted delivery of and left the residence with one of the packages, after which he was arrested.
The defendant is being held pending a detention hearing before the Honorable Michael J. Roemer on March 31, 2016.
The criminal complaint is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent In Charges James J. Hunt, and the United States Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Inspector in Charge Shelly Binkowski.
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.