Buffalo Man Convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute Crack Cocaine

BUFFALO, N.Y.--U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Nathaniel Clark, 31, of Buffalo NY, pleaded guilty before District Court Judge Richard J. Arcara to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute crack cocaine. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison, a $5,000,000 fine, or both.

                Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Catherine Baumgarten, who is handling the case, stated that the charge stems from an investigation into the trafficking of cocaine base and cocaine from the Cleveland, Ohio area into Western New York, and the distribution of those drugs in North Tonawanda, Niagara Falls, Lockport, and Buffalo.

Charges are pending against co-defendant Raysean Clark, 27, of Buffalo. 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. Co-defendants Kayla Combs, 24, of Buffalo, and Tommy Clark, 29, of Niagara Falls, were convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute crack cocaine. Combs will be sentenced on December 10, 2014 at 12:30 p.m., and Tommy Clark will be sentenced on January 15, 2015 at 12:30 p.m. before Judge Arcara.

The plea is the culmination of an investigation on the part of Task Force Agents and Special Agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of James J. Hunt, Special Agent in Charge, New York Field Division, in conjunction with the Niagara County Sheriff's Department and Niagara County Drug Task Force, under the direction of Sheriff James Voutour, and the North Tonawanda Police Department, under the direction of Chief William Hall.

                Sentencing is scheduled January 30, 2015 at 12:30 p.m. before Judge Arcara.

The plea is the culmination of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Office of Labor Racketeering and Fraud Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Cheryl Garcia of the New York Regional Office.

Sentencing is scheduled for January 28, 2015, at 9:00 a.m. before Judge Skretny.