BUFFALO — Thirty-five-year-old Oscar Romero of Buffalo pleaded guilty today to possession with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine before Senior U.S. District Judge William M. Skretny. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $2,000,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas S. Duszkiewicz, who is handling the case, stated that the defendant was a member of a gang known as the Loiza Boys which has been distributing cocaine and heroin on Buffalo’s West Side since at least 2006.
Romero was charged in 2013 along with nine other defendants following a long term investigation that involved the interception of telephone calls of the defendants and the use of undercover drug purchases from some of those charged. During the investigation, law enforcement officers seized over 450 grams of heroin, three firearms, and over $70,000 in U.S. currency.
Romero is the first to be convicted. The remaining defendants are scheduled to go to trial on January 3, 2017. 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 culmination of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Safe Streets Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Adam S. Cohen.
Sentencing is scheduled for March 15, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. before Judge Skretny.
from US Dept. of Justice via IFTTT
