STAFF REPORTS
BUFFALO, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that a federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment charging Jawayne Watkins, 29, aka Weezy, and Anika Williams, 42, both of Buffalo, NY, with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin, and 4-fluoroisobutyryl fentanyl, and possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, heroin and 4-fluoroisobutyryl fentanyl. The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of 40 years in prison, and a fine of $5,000,000.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Adler, who is handling the case, stated that according to the superseding indictment and a previously filed complaint, in July 2017, an undercover officer made a $1,500 controlled purchase of heroin and 4-fluoroisobutyryl fentanyl from Watkins. On November 9, 2017, Watkins made a second sale, this time a mixture of heroin and 4-fluoroisobutyryl fentanyl.
Watkins was on New York State parole and living in a halfway house at the time of his arrest in November 2017.
Anika Williams was arraigned before U.S, Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy and released on conditions following a detention hearing this morning. Jawayne Watkins is scheduled to be arraigned on June 26, 2018 at 3:00 p.m.
The superseding indictment is the result of an investigation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Kevin Kelly, and the Erie County Sheriff’s Department, under the direction of Sheriff Timothy Howard.
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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