BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr.
announced today that Joseph Jones, a/k/a Tio, 55, of Niagara Falls, NY, pleaded
guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute,
500 grams or more of cocaine before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo.
The charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum
of 40 years in prison, and a $5,000,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura A. Higgins, who is handling
the case, stated that between October 2016 and September 29, 2017, the
defendant distributed cocaine with various co-conspirators in the Buffalo/Niagara
Falls area.
On three occasions in August of 2017, defendant received a
combined total of two and one-half kilograms of cocaine from his
co-conspirators for the purpose of distributing it. During the course of the
conspiracy, Jones regularly distributed at least one kilogram of cocaine per
month on behalf of the organization for which he distributed. To date, two of Jones’ co-conspirators have
been convicted, while charges remain pending against four others. 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.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Federal
Bureau of Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Gary
Loeffert.
Jones is scheduled to be sentenced on September 11, 2019,
before Judge Vilardo.
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