Six Indicted In Marijuana Distribution Conspiracy

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

BUFFALO, N.Y.—U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that a grand jury has handed down an 8-count indictment charging Dashawn Abrams, 26, Damarcus Hennings, 24, Shaquata Hennings, 29, Arthur Clark, 27, Shahana Beaver, 23, and Janice Humphrey, 26, all of Buffalo, N.Y., with conspiracy to distribute marijuana and, with the exception of Clark and Humphrey, conspiracy to launder money.  All except Abrams and Clark were charged with related drug offenses.  Damarcus Hennings and Beaver were also charged with related use and possession of firearms.  The drug and money laundering charges carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.  The firearms charges carry a mandatory penalty of at least 5 years prison, up to life in prison, consecutive to any prison term imposed for the drug charges.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Frank T. Pimentel, who is handling the case, stated that between April 2015 and September 2015 the defendants conspired to ship, receive, and distribute more than 100 packages containing marijuana between Denver, Colorado and Buffalo.  The defendants also conspired to send the cash proceeds from resulting marijuana sales to the supplier in Denver.
The indictment is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James J. Hunt, New York Field Division, and the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority Transit Police, under the direction of Chief George Gast. Additional assistance was provided by the New York State Police Community Enforcement Narcotics Team Western Region, the Buffalo Police Department, the Lackawanna Police Department, the Cheektowaga Police Department, the Hamburg Police Department, the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office, the Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Office, and the Erie County Sheriff’s Office.

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.