“Though we may be over 2,000 miles away from the Mexican Border, this case illustrates that the threat associated by the illegal flow of controlled substances over that border is very real even here in Western New York,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. “The misery associated with the lives harmed by drugs flowing across the Southwest Border extends across the entire United States. We will remain vigilant in our effort to stem that flow at every point along away.”
DEA Special Agent-in-Charge James J. Hunt stated, “Coordination was the key element throughout this two-day enforcement operation. The objective to identify those responsible for trying to bring nine million dollars’ worth of drugs into Buffalo was met, resulting in 48 kilograms of cocaine being taken off the streets.”
Assistant U. S. Attorney Joel L. Violanti, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, in February, 2017, the Drug Enforcement Administration received information regarding the drug trafficking activities of the defendants. DEA agents identified Wilkie, Nowak and Rodriguez as members of a large scale cocaine distribution organization with direct connections to Mexico. Cocaine was smuggled into the United States from Mexico and eventually brought to Arizona and then distributed throughout the United States by various members of the organization. The complaint states that Wilkie picked up many kilograms of cocaine in Arizona and transported it to Buffalo on a number of occasions. Once, in Buffalo, Wilkie would give the cocaine to Nowak, who, in turn, would provide it to Rodriguez, for distribution throughout the area. Once distributed, the proceeds of the sale would be collected by Rodriguez and Nowak who would provide the money to Wilkie so that he could return it to the Mexican source.
On February 22, 2017, Wilkie was stopped by the Illinois State Police (ISP) in Collinsville, IL for driving with an obstructed license plate. A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed that it contained 48 kilograms of cocaine. Thirty kilograms were contained in a suitcase, while 18 kilograms were discovered in a duffel bag. Wilkie was arrested by the ISP. Subsequent investigation revealed that the 18 kilograms were destined for Buffalo, while the remaining 30 kilograms were destined for Chicago.
On February 23, 2017, a controlled delivery of 18 kilograms of “sham” cocaine was made by Wilkie to Nowak at a local hotel. During their meeting, Wilkie and Nowak discussed, among other things, Nowak’s ongoing relationship with the Mexican cocaine source of supply. At one point during the conversation, Wilkie opened the duffel bag to expose the 18 “sham” kilograms of cocaine. Following the conversation, Nowak took possession of the duffel bag containing the 18 “sham” kilograms of cocaine and exited the hotel room. As he exited the motel, Nowak was arrested by DEA agents.
Following that arrest, arrangements were made for Nowak to deliver the cocaine to defendant Rodriguez at an automotive shop on Kenmore Avenue in the Town of Tonawanda. Once again, drug related conversation preceded the transfer of the 18 “sham” kilograms of cocaine from Nowak to Rodriguez. Rodriguez was arrested in possession of the duffle bag.
The defendants were arraigned this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy and are being detained pending a hearing on February 28, 2017 at 10:00 a.m.
The complaint 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, The Drug Enforcement Administration, Fairview Heights, IL Resident Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Tucson District Office, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Kevin Kelly. Additional assistance was provided by the Erie County Sheriff’s Office, the Buffalo Police Department, the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office, the Niagara Falls Police Department, New York State Police Community Narcotics Enforcement Team, the Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Department, the Niagara Frontier Transit Authority Police Department, the Hamburg Police Department, the Lackawanna Police Department, U.S. Border Patrol, Customs and Border Protection, Air and Marine unit, and the Cheektowaga Police Department.
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