ROCHESTER—U.S. Attorney William J.
Hochul, Jr. announced today that Brian Leonard, 42, of Rochester, New York, who
was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to
distribute, five kilograms or more of cocaine; possession of a firearm in
furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; and possession of cocaine with intent
to distribute, was sentenced to 72 months in prison and a $1,500 fine by U.S.
District Judge David G. Larimer.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brett A. Harvey,
who handled the case, stated that between August 2003 and December 20, 2005,
the defendant was involved with numerous others in a drug trafficking
organization that was responsible for trafficking between 5 and 15 kilograms of
cocaine in the Rochester area. Leonard and other members of the organization
would travel to Chicago, Illinois, purchase multiple-kilogram quantities of
cocaine from their Chicago-based suppliers, transport the cocaine back to
Rochester, and distribute it to mid-level and lower-level drug dealers. Among
other methods, members of the organization utilized a 1993 Cadillac equipped
with a secret compartment to transport multiple-kilogram quantities of cocaine
and avoid detection by law enforcement authorities. In furtherance of the drug
conspiracy, the defendant possessed a rifle and shotgun at his residence. Also,
on July 26, 2007, the defendant possessed approximately 60 grams of cocaine,
which he intended to distribute to others.
Algernon Toole, one of the
Rochester-based members of the organization, and his brother, Everette Toole, a
Chicago-based cocaine supplier, were convicted on drug conspiracy charges after
a jury trial in February 2010 and were sentenced to 240 months and 204 months
in prison, respectively. Lawrence Williams, another Chicago-based cocaine
supplier, was also convicted of a drug conspiracy charge and sentenced to 262
months in prison, to be served concurrently with a 240-month sentenced imposed
for a separate federal drug conspiracy conviction in the District of Wisconsin.
Frank Cavallucci, another Rochester-based conspirator, was convicted of drug
conspiracy and firearms charges and sentenced to 84 months in prison and a
$1,000 fine. Lazero Collado Montero, another Rochester-based member of the
organization, was convicted of a drug conspiracy charge and also sentenced to
84 months in prison.
The sentencing is the culmination of an
investigation on the part of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the
direction of Special Agent in Charge Christopher M. Piehota; and the Rochester
Police Department, under the direction of Chief James Sheppard.
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