Four More Defendants Enter Federal Narcotics Pleas

BUFFALO—U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that David Manuel, 37; Judith Askew, 44; Arthur Hubbard, 35; and Tonya Maye, 22; all of Buffalo, New York, entered guilty pleas before United States District Judge Richard J. Arcara to various federal narcotics offenses. Manuel pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, five kilograms or more of cocaine, carrying a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment, a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a fine of $4,000,000, or both. Askew pled guilty to money laundering, carrying a maximum punishment of 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, or both. Hubbard pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, 500 grams or more of cocaine, carrying a mandatory minimum sentence of five years’ imprisonment, a maximum sentence of 40 years, a fine of $2,000,000, or both. Maye pled guilty to the use of a communication facility (telephone) to facilitate a federal narcotics felony, carrying a maximum punishment of four years’ imprisonment, a fine of $250,000, or both.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert C. Moscati said Manuel agreed with others to buy up to 20 kilograms of cocaine at a time in Houston, Texas, for transport and resale in Buffalo, New York. Askew laundered more than $10,000 cash, which she knew was derived from narcotics trafficking, at the request and direction of another defendant charged in the same indictment. In July 2009, Hubbard purchased at least one-half kilogram of cocaine on at least four separate occasions from a co-defendant, David Manuel. Maye used a telephone on multiple occasions to arrange narcotics transactions with another defendant in the case.

The case is part of a 78-count superseding indictment charging 20 persons involved in a multi-kilogram cocaine distribution network between Buffalo, New York and Houston, Texas. To date, seven defendants have pled guilty.

The indictment was the culmination of an investigation on the part of special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Safe Streets Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Christopher Piehota; the Drug Enforcement Agency, under the direction of Resident Agent in Charge Dale M. Kaspyrzyk; and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Resident Agent in Charge Frank Christiano.

Sentencing for David Manuel is September 12, 2012 at 12:30 p.m. Sentencing for Judith Askew is September 7, 2012 at 1:00 p.m. Sentencing for Arthur Hubbard is September 19, 2012 at 12:30 p.m. Sentencing for Tonya Maye is September 10, 2012 at 12:30 p.m. All sentencings will be before U.S. District Judge Arcara.