Niagara Falls Man Pleads Guilty To Selling Fentanyl

BUFFALO, NY—U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy Jr. announced today that Jake Seright, 40, of Niagara Falls, NY, pleaded guilty before Senior U.S. District Judge William M. Skretny to possessing with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. The charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum penalty of life in prison, and a fine of $8,000,000.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Misha A. Coulson, who is handling the case, stated that between October 2018 and June 2019, the defendant sold fentanyl and cocaine to an individual working with the Drug Enforcement Administration on five separate occasions. On July 19, 2019, investigators obtained a federal search warrant for Seright’s apartment on Zito Drive in Niagara Falls. In anticipation of executing that warrant, investigators conducted surveillance in the vicinity during the afternoon and evening hours of August 5, 2019. At approximately 11:20 p.m., a stop was conducted of the defendant’s vehicle. A quantity of marijuana was recovered from Seright, who was arrested at that time. The defendant was also in possession of approximately $500 in cash and $625 worth of money orders. On August 6, 2019, a search warrant was executed at Seright’s apartment. Investigators recovered a digital scale, suspected cocaine and fentanyl, cutting agents, a kilogram press, and a vacuum sealer with bags.

The plea is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in Charge Ray Donovan, New York Field Division, and the Niagara Falls Police Department, under the direction of Superintendent Thomas Licata.

Sentencing is scheduled for September 9, 2020, at 9:00 a.m. before Judge Skretny.