BUFFALO — U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Darin Butts, 30, of Celeron, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years, a maximum of life and a 10,000,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Louis A. Testani, who is handling the case, stated that investigators conducting surveillance of a E. Duquesne Street residence in Jamestown observed Butts exit the residence, remove a white and black shopping bag from his vehicle and place it in a nearby vehicle, which belonged to his girlfriend, Nikita Benson. Benson gave investigators permission to search the vehicle. They recovered the white and black shopping bag, which contained a large quantity of suspected methamphetamine, packaged in smaller, individual-sized quantities, a scale, packaging materials, and cash. A backpack containing a large quantity of suspected methamphetamine was also recovered. All of the methamphetamine seized totaled 856 grams. Butts was taken into custody at that time.
The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Jamestown Police Department, under the direction of Chief Timothy Jackson, the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank A. Tarentino III, New York Field Division, the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff James Quattrone, the Ellicott Police Department, under the direction of Chief William Ohnmeiss Jr., and the Dunkirk Police Department, under the direction of Chief David C. Ortolano.
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.
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