Ransomville Man Pleads Guilty To Drug Charges

CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE:  (716) 843-5817
FAX #:    (716) 551-3051
 
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul Jr. announced today that Timothy S. Woodean, 52, of Ransomville, NY, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, 100 kilograms or more of marijuana, before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara. The charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of 40 years, and a $2,000,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward H. White, who is handling the case, stated that, between 2002 and April 2010, the defendant conspired with Edward C. Lynch, Bonnie R. Gordon, David G. Davis, and others to possess and distribute 100 kilograms or more of marijuana. Woodean and others arranged for bulk quantities of marijuana to be smuggled from Canada into the United States, often times using spare tires stuffed with marijuana.  The vehicle used in the smuggling would then be driven to one of several locations in Niagara County, where the tire would be taken apart and the marijuana recovered for further distribution to suppliers, including Davis. Davis and other suppliers purchased multiple kilogram quantities of the marijuana that had been smuggled into the United States and then sold the marijuana to other customers. Similarly, money was pooled by and between the defendant, Lynch, and others, which was secreted and transported to Canada from the United States for payment for the bulk quantities of marijuana referenced above.

Defendants Lynch and Gordon have been convicted and are awaiting sentencing. Charges are pending against Davis. 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.

The plea is the result of an investigation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge J. Michael Kennedy.

Sentencing is scheduled for July 31, 2015, before Judge Arcara.