At approximately 3:20 p.m. on Thursday, (simultaneous to the Sheriff’s heroin arrest press conference) the Sheriff’s Narcotics Unit, assisted by Buffalo PD and U.S. Department of Homeland Security agents, raided two residences at 42 and 44 Thatcher Ave. During the execution of the search warrants, deputies and detectives discovered multiple plastic bags filled with marijuana, five 5-gallon buckets of marijuana (totaling approximately 100 pounds), two loaded handguns, and a large scale.
As the investigation continued it was discovered Nkomo Hepburn and Michelle Palmer were in the United States illegally and at least one of the subjects was previously deported to Jamaica. Palmer, 41 of Buffalo, and Sanjay Cousins, 25 of Buffalo were charged with a C-felony for criminal possession of marijuana and misdemeanor counts of criminal possession of a firearm. Hepburn was charged with criminal possession of a weapon. The three defendants were placed in the Erie County Holding Center pending arraignment.
Hepburn and Palmer face additional federal charges and deportation proceedings after the criminal proceedings are adjudicated.
The Narcotics Unit has been developing information related to the subjects and the criminal operation for several months and continues to investigate the origin of the handguns.
