Two Buffalo Men Indicted, Charged With Gun And 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 a federal grand jury has returned a nine count indictment charging Jay Neal, 37, and Quashawn Lawrence, 25, both of Buffalo, NY, with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 100 grams or more heroin and crack cocaine, possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, heroin, possession of heroin and crack cocaine with intent to distribute, maintaining a drug involved premises, possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking activity, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and possession of a defaced firearm. The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of 45 years, and a $5,000,000.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Adler, who is handling the case, stated that according to the indictment and a previously filed complaint, on October 20, 2015, Neal sold a quantity of heroin. The following day, on October 21, 2015, Neal once again agreed to sell a quantity of heroin. The defendant left the meeting location and drove to the vicinity of Dodge St. and Michigan Ave. where a man later identified as defendant Lawrence exited a residence with a tan back pack and entered Neal’s vehicle.

Neal then drove to a residence at 87 Mariner St. in Buffalo. About an hour later, Neal and Lawrence were arrested by police. At the time of his arrest, Neal was armed with a 9mm handgun and had $10,000 in United States currency. Lawrence was in possession of a quantity of crack cocaine. A search warrant executed inside 87 Mariner recovered a gun inside Lawrence’s tan back pack, and another gun, ammunition, 10 grams of heroin inside a dresser drawer, and multiple scales.
The defendants will be arraigned on February 2 and February 3, 2016 at 10:30am before U.S. Magistrate Judge H. Kenneth Schroeder.

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 Erie County Sheriff’s Department, under the direction of Timothy Howard. 

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.