Buffalo Man Arrested, Charged With Drug And Gun Charges

BUFFALO, N.Y. — U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Angel Coira-Burgos, 44, of Buffalo, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with possessing with intent to distribute cocaine and fentanyl and possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. The charges carry a minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of life and a $1,000,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan E. Leydecker, who is handling the case, stated that on June 1, 2021, Amherst Police officers, while on routine patrol on Flint Road, conducted a check of a license plate and learned that the registered owner had two outstanding warrants for drug charges in Lancaster, NY. Officers conducted a traffic stop and confirmed that the driver was the registered owner with the two warrants and took her into custody. During the traffic stop, a passenger identified himself as Angel Coira-Burgos, and advised officers that he was previously arrested on firearms charges in Buffalo. The driver asked officers if Coira-Burgos could retrieve her cell phone from a nearby motel room. Escorted to the motel room by an officer, the defendant attempted to slam the door shut as he entered the room but was prevented from doing so by the officer. In plain view, the officer observed a large quantity of white powder and drug paraphernalia on the table in the motel room. Coira-Burgos was detained. During the execution of a search warrant in the room, investigators recovered approximately 15 grams of suspected heroin, six Clonazepam pills, scales, wax paper bags, latex bands and containers. In addition, a loaded firearm was also recovered. Quantities of cocaine and cocaine mixed with fentanyl were also found in the room.

The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Amherst Police Department, under the direction of Chief Scott Chamberlin and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Stephen Belongia.

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.