Convicted felon who began selling cocaine immediately following his release from federal prison is going back to prison for 11 years
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Ray Donovan, New York Division announced today that John E. Kidd, 37, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of conspiring to distribute, and distributing, 500 grams or more of cocaine, being a felon in possession of ammunition, and violating supervised release, was sentenced to serve 132 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Adler, who handled the case, stated that on April 25, 2017, the defendant was released from federal prison after serving 72 months on a cocaine conviction. Following his release, Kidd started selling cocaine and marijuana to customers in and outside of the City of Buffalo. On October 24, 2017, the defendant agreed to sell two and a half ounces of cocaine to an individual. Law enforcement officers approached Kidd as he was entering his vehicle to meet the individual to conduct the sale. He possessed approximately 101 grams of cocaine and 61 grams of marijuana.
The United States Probation Office, assisted by the DEA then conducted a search of the defendant’s St. Joseph Street residence in Buffalo. During the search, they recovered packaging materials, rubber gloves, baking powder, a metal plate with suspected cocaine residue, scales, a money counter, and small amounts of suspected cocaine and marijuana. Also recovered were four rounds of 12 gauge ammunition. As a result of prior felony convictions, Kidd is prohibited from possessing ammunition. In addition, investigators seized $402,206 in U.S. currency hidden in the dry wall of the defendant’s residence, which represents the proceeds of cocaine and marijuana trafficking.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by and the U.S. Probation Department and the DEA Buffalo Resident Office, New York Division.
