United States Drug Enforcement Administration

BUFFALO, NY - United States Attorney for the Western District of New York Trini E. Ross announced today that Steven Gonzalez aka Steven Hernandez, aka Steve, aka Stevie, aka Unc, 46, of Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty before United States District Judge Richard J. Arcara to narcotics conspiracy. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $1,000,000.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua A. Violanti, Misha A. Coulson, and Joseph M. Tripi, who are handling the case said that between June 2019, and September 2019, Gonzalez conspired with others to sell heroin, fentanyl, and acetyl fentanyl. During the conspiracy, Gonzalez sold quantities of heroin and fentanyl for profit, with the assistance of a known co-conspirator identified CC-1. CC-1 arranged drug deals and drove Gonzalez to drug deals, and Gonzalez provided CC-1 with heroin/fentanyl for CC-1’s personal use. On July 17, 2019, CC-1 made a controlled call to Gonzalez regarding CC-1’s sworn testimony related to the overdose of a person identified as L.K. CC-1 told Gonzalez that CC-1 believed that investigators did not believe CC-1’s false story accusing a source of supply named “Freddy.” Gonzelez told CC-1 to “stick to the same story that you’ve been telling them.”

On September 24, 2019, investigators executed a search warrant at West Avenue residence, during which they recovered approximately 19 grams of heroin from Gonzalez’s possession. Gonzalez utilized the West Avenue residence to facilitate his drug trafficking activities.
In April 2022, Gonzalez was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking, sex trafficking of a minor, sex trafficking by coercion, and drug distribution charges. Those charges remain pending.

The plea is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration's New York Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Frank A. Tarentino III, the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Eugene Staniszewski, and the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia.

Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date.
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