Perry Housing Project Ringleader Sentenced On Drug, Money Laundering, And Firearms Charges

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Tyshawn Bradley, 33, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of conspiracy to distribute 280 grams or more of crack cocaine within 1000 feet of the Perry Housing Projects, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and possession of an unregistered, sawed off rifle, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo to serve 30 years in prison.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Timothy C. Lynch and Michael J. Adler, who handled the prosecution, stated that the defendant was the head of a narcotics trafficking ring that operated primarily in the Perry Housing Projects in Buffalo. Bradley maintained several apartments on the grounds of those projects, operated by the Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority, where members of his organization sold crack cocaine on a daily basis.

The defendant was arrested along with nine others on April 3, 2013, following the execution of search warrants several locations in the City of Buffalo and Cheektowaga, including at 124 Fulton Street and 305 Perry Street, which are located at the Perry Housing Projects. During the searches at the Perry Housing Projects, officers recovered over 300 grams of crack cocaine and 700 grams of powered cocaine as well as a sawed-off, 9mm semiautomatic rifle that belong to Bradley.

In addition, between October 2011 and April 3, 2013, the defendant conspired with others to purchase multiple houses in the City of Buffalo using the proceeds of his crack cocaine distribution organization. As part of the money laundering conspiracy, the properties were purchased by co-defendant Nannette Brown to conceal Bradley as the true owner of the properties.

Judge Vilardo concluded that, in addition to being a leader of the organization, defendant also used a minor to commit his drug trafficking offense. Additionally, the Court also found that the defendant possessed an arsenal of firearms and ammunition, and that defendant obstructed justice by threatening multiple witnesses.  Most significantly, the Court found that defendant was responsible for the murder of Andre James on January 29, 2011.   The evidence presented to the Court established that the defendant first shot another individual in the left jaw of his face, twice in the arm, and once in the hip.  The defendant then shot James multiple times, killing him.

The murder was investigated by the Buffalo Police Department’s homicide detectives, who obtained the shell casings and evidence necessary to connect Bradley to the murder. Bradley’s involvement in this murder prompted the initial involvement of the FBI into Bradley’s drug trafficking activities.

To date, all 10 charged defendants have been convicted and Bradley is the final defendant to be sentenced.

Today’s sentencing is the culmination of an investigation on the part of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Safe Streets Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Gary Loeffert, and the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Byron Lockwood.