Leader Of Lockport Drug Trafficking Organization Pleads Guilty

BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Bruno J. Haney, II, 32, of Lockport, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute, and distributing, heroin, fentanyl, and butyryl fentanyl. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and $1,000,000 fine.     

Assistant U.S. Attorney Misha A. Coulson, who is handling the case, stated that between April 2017 and March 2019, the defendant organized and led a drug trafficking organization, which included co-defendants Marissa L. DeCarlo, his girlfriend, who allegedly collected drug money for Haney, and James O. White, whom Haney allegedly supplied with drugs.

On June 16, 2017, the Niagara County Drug Task Force executed a state search warrant at the defendant’s residence on Prospect Street in Lockport. Investigators recovered several bags containing butyryl fentanyl, hydrocodone/acetaminophen and alprazolam pills, $515 in U.S. currency, two packages of black rubber bands, a box of waxed baggies, a digital video recorder, and a digital scale. On January 18, 2019, Haney was arrested, and a search warrant was executed at a residence at East Avenue in Lockport. During that search, investigators recovered quantities of fentanyl, a mixture of heroin and fentanyl, marijuana, $978 in U.S. currency, a digital scale, numerous tablets, and plastic baggies. On February 12, 2019, defendant was charged by a criminal complaint, and on February 28, 2019, he was released from custody on various conditions, which included that he not commit any offense in violation of federal, state, or local law. On March 7, 2019, another search warrant was executed at Haney’s residence on Prospect Street, during which a ziplock bag containing a mixture of heroin and fentanyl, $373 in U.S. currency, and a digital scale were recovered.

Charges remain pending against defendants White and DeCarlo. 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  Niagara County Drug Task Force and the Niagara County Sheriff’s Department, under the direction of Sheriff Michael Filicetti; the Niagara County District Attorney’s Office, under the direction of District Attorney Brian D. Seaman; the Orleans County Major Felony Crime Task Force, under the direction of Sheriff Randy Bower; the Orleans County District Attorney’s Office, under the direction of District Attorney Joseph V. Cardone; Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Kevin Kelly; and the Lockport Police Department, under the direction of Chief Steven Abbott. 

Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date.