BUFFALO—U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul,
Jr. announced today that Pinky Stover, 33, of Buffalo, New York, pleaded guilty
plea before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara for distributing crack
cocaine. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, a
$5,000,000 fine or both.
According to Assistant U.S. Attorney
Michael L. McCabe, Stover sold crack cocaine to a confidential informant
working with the Federal Bureau of Investigation in July 2008 on William Street
(in the vicinity of Sherman Street) in Buffalo. Agents had identified Stover as
a member of the “31-Gang.” The guilty plea follows a lengthy investigation into
the drug trafficking activities of the 31-Gang on Buffalo’s east side, which
resulted in the arrests of Stover and 33 others in February 2009. To date, 32
of the defendants have been convicted.
“The prosecution of violent drug and gun
crimes continues to be a priority,” said U.S. Attorney Hochul. “This case
should send a message that if you join a gang, you will be identified and
prosecuted.”
The plea is the culmination of an
investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Task Force,
under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Christopher M. Piehota; and the
Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Daniel Derenda.
Sentencing is scheduled for August 27,
2012 at 1:00 p.m. before Judge Arcara.
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