Buffalo Man Indicted On Multiple Drug And Weapons Charges
BUFFALO, N.Y. - DEA New York Special Agent in-Charge James J. Hunt and U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul Jr. announced that a federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Rashawn Crule, 40, of Buffalo, NY, with multiple drug trafficking and weapons offenses. Charges include possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of heroin, possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, maintaining a drug involved premises, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. 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 Tokash, who is prosecuting the case, stated that according to the indictment, between October 2, 2015 and November 2, 2015, the defendant possessed with intent to distribute and distributed various illegal narcotics including heroin, crack cocaine and cocaine. The indictment further states that Crule maintained a premise at 98 Gillette Avenue in Buffalo for the purpose of manufacturing, distributing and using these illegal narcotics. The defendant also allegedly possessed a 9mm handgun. Following a 2002 conviction in Erie County Court, Crule is prohibited from possessing a firearm.
Crule made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge H. Kenneth Schroeder, Jr. and was released on bail.
The indictment is the result of an investigation by DEA New York, the New York State Police Community Narcotics Enforcement (CNET), under the direction of Major David Krause and Lieutenant Kevin Reyes, CNET West Commander, and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Air and Marine Unit, under the direction of Brian Manaher, Director, Marine Operations.
