New York Attorney General Letitia James announced the dismantling of a significant drug trafficking operation that has been inundating communities in Buffalo and Jamestown with fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine. The operation led to the arrest of seven individuals, including one from Niagara Falls, and the indictment includes a staggering 130 charges related to conspiracy and drug trafficking.
The investigation, conducted by the Office of the Attorney General’s Organized Crime Task Force (OCTF) in collaboration with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Niagara Falls Police Department (NFPD), resulted in the seizure of nearly one kilogram of cocaine valued at $30,000, over half a pound of methamphetamine worth $1,500, more than an ounce of fentanyl valued at $1,600, and over $4,000 in cash.
“Dismantling dangerous drug trafficking networks is essential to keeping our communities safe,” stated Attorney General James. “These individuals sold a variety of deadly narcotics, including fentanyl, across Western New York, and now they are being brought to justice.”
The investigation utilized court-authorized wiretaps, which revealed coded conversations among the defendants attempting to disguise their illicit activities. The central figure, Ronnie Dupree, allegedly purchased large quantities of drugs from Dion Anderson, Kenneth Pringle, Antwain Jackson, and others, with Dupree and Jackson traveling between Buffalo and Jamestown to conduct sales.
The indictment charges the following individuals:
- Dion Anderson, 44, Buffalo
- Ronnie Dupree, 47, Buffalo
- Devan Huntington, 30, Jamestown
- Antwain Jackson, 48, Buffalo
- Sabrina Leeper, 50, Jamestown
- Kenneth Pringle, 50, Niagara Falls
- David Vaughn, 26, Buffalo
If convicted on the most serious charges, Pringle could face up to 30 years in prison, while Dupree faces a maximum of 24 years. Other defendants face sentences ranging from 10 to 20 years.
DEA New York Special Agent in Charge Frank Tarentino emphasized the importance of this operation, stating, “Today’s arraignment of these seven individuals, who continuously flooded our upstate neighborhoods with illicit and synthetic drugs, shows the determination we have when targeting those drug trafficking organizations poisoning our communities.”
Seven Arrested in Major Drug Trafficking Bust, Including one from Niagara Falls