STAFF REPORTS
BUFFALO, N.Y.—U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Patrick Washington, Jr., 34, of Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty before Judge U.S. Magistrate Judge H. Kenneth Schroeder to possession with intent to distribute butyryl fentanyl. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth T. Molisani, who is handling the case, stated that beginning in March 2018, the Town of Tonawanda Police Department began investigating the narcotics distribution activities of the defendant. Investigators conducted three controlled purchases of suspected heroin from defendant between March and April of 2018. Laboratory testing confirmed the presence of butyryl fentanyl, buprenorphine, and butyryl fentanyl.
Subsequently, on May 2, 2018, the Drug Enforcement Administration executed a federal search warrant at Washington’s residence at 76 Bellah Place in Tonawanda, and recovered a quantity of a suspected controlled substance. Testing determined that the controlled substance was butyryl fentanyl.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Town of Tonawanda Police Department, under the direction of Chief Jerome C. Uschold III, and the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge James J. Hunt.
Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date.
