Buffalo Man Sentenced in 31-Gang Case

BUFFALO, NY—U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Damone Brown, 32, of Buffalo, New York, who was convicted of concealing and failing to report the money laundering activities of Glance Ross, a member of Buffalo’s 31-Gang, was sentenced to one year of probation by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara.

According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael L. McCabe, who is handling the case, Brown knew that Glance Ross was laundering money by concealing cash in a safe deposit box in the defendant’s name at a Buffalo branch of Citizen’s Bank on Hertel Avenue. In November 2008, agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation intercepted phone calls between Brown and Ross regarding deposits Ross made to the safe deposit box in Brown’s name. On November 10, 2008, FBI agents observed both Brown and Hodge enter the bank and make a deposit into Brown’s safe deposit box. Agents later recovered $170,000 in cash inside the box, which constituted proceeds from Ross’s cocaine-trafficking activities on Buffalo’s east side. Brown never reported Ross’s money laundering to law enforcement officials.

Glance Ross was sentenced November 2, 2011 to 139 months in prison for cocaine trafficking and money laundering.

“Just as our office vigorously prosecutes any gang member involved in drug dealing or violence, we will also pursue any individual who knowingly assists them in their criminal activities,” said U.S. Attorney Hochul.

The pleas are the culmination of an investigation on the part of special agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Christopher M. Piehota, and officers from the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force.