7th Street Gang Associate Sentenced on Drug Charge

BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul Jr. announced today that Alejandro Navarro-Gonzalez,  34, of Buffalo, N.Y., who was convicted of possession with intent to distribute more than one kilogram of heroin, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute more than 100 grams of heroin, and maintaining a drug involved premises, was sentenced to 251 months in prison followed by 10 years supervised release by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mary C. Baumgarten and Joseph M. Tripi, who handled the case, stated that Navarro-Gonzalez was an associate of the Cheko’s Crew/7th Street Gang. In 2010, the defendant supplied bulk quantities of heroin to the Cheko’s Crew/7th Street Gang which he received from a supplier in Chicago.

In March, 2012, a federal search warrant was obtained for a postal package, which contained drugs destined for 39 Montclair in Buffalo. A search warrant was also obtained for 39 Montclair and during the execution of that search warrant, law enforcement officers seized drugs, ammunition, and drug paraphernalia. Subsequently, Navarro-Gonzalez rented a storage unit at Public Storage on Transit Road to hide drugs and evidence of drug dealing. During a search of the unit, officers seized approximately a quantity of heroin, a.32 caliber semi-automatic handgun, assorted ammunition, and other drug trafficking paraphernalia.

The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Adam S. Cohen, the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Steven Nigrelli, the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Daniel Derenda, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Charlie Patterson, the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James J. Hunt, New York Field Division, and the United States Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Inspector in Charge Shelly Binkowski.