17 Schuele Boys Gang Members and Associates Indicted on Drug Trafficking Charges

BUFFALO, N.Y. — U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that a federal grand jury has handed down an indictment charging 17 members and associates of the Schuele Boys Gang, a group which operated in the Schuele Street area of the East Side of Buffalo, with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and 28 grams or more of crack cocaine. The charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life, and a fine of $10,000,000.

In the indictment, the Government is also seeking the forfeiture of $250,000 in United States currency, money believed to be the proceeds of drug trafficking activities, as well as firearms and ammunition.

Named in the indictment are:

•          Antwan Garner, 29, Buffalo

•          Aaron Glenn, 41, North Tonawanda

•          Jerome Grant, 33, Buffalo

•          James Hicks, 44, Buffalo

•          Xavier Hill, 42, Buffalo

•          Demetrius Holmes, 23, Buffalo

•          Damario James, 32, Buffalo

•          Fred Johnson, 21, Buffalo

•          Ikeem Lyons, 21, Buffalo

•          Benjamin Peoples, 25, Buffalo

•          Demario Robbins, 23, Buffalo

•          Michael Robertson, 24, Buffalo

•          Spencer Rogers, 50, Buffalo

•          Antwon Steward, 31, Buffalo

•          Shawntorrian Travis, 34, Buffalo

•          Andre Wise, 36, Buffalo

•          Marcel Worthy, 30, Buffalo

Assistant U.S. Attorney George C. Burgasser, who is handling the case, stated that according to the original complaint that was filed in the case, the investigation utilized wire and electronic communications, confidential sources, controlled purchases of narcotics, and physical and video surveillance, to identify conspirators associated with the Schuele Boys Gang distribution network. The complaint further states that in addition to buying and selling illegal narcotics, the defendants were also involved in committing acts of violence including shootings.

The members and associates are alleged to have attempted to thwart law detection by law enforcement officers through the frequent changing of cellular telephones. The defendants also are alleged to have used other counter-surveillance techniques, including utilizing and frequently changing rental vehicles, employing evasive driving techniques, and speaking in coded language.

The indictment is the culmination of an investigation on the part of the FBI's Safe Streets Task Force which includes representatives of the Amherst Police Department; the Buffalo Police Department; U.S. Border Patrol, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Cheektowaga Police Department; the Erie County Sheriff’s Department; the Hamburg Police Department; the Lancaster Police Department; the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority Police; the New York State Department of Correctional Services; the New York State Police; and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations. Additional assistance was provided by the Drug Enforcement Administration; U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the United States Marshal Service, the Lackawanna Police Department, and the Niagara County Sheriff’s Department.  

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.