United States Drug Enforcement Administration

BUFFALO, NY - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. and Drug Enforcement Administration, New York Division, Special Agent in Charge Raymond Donovan announced today that Maulana Lucas, 45, of Buffalo, New York, who was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin, five kilograms or more of cocaine, and 400 grams or more of fentanyl, was sentenced to serve 84 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan A. Tokash, who handled the case, said that between January 2013 and September 2015, the defendant and his girlfriend formed a relationship with co-defendant Darryl Williams to assist Williams with receiving drug shipments from California, distributing the drugs, and collecting proceeds the Western District of New York and elsewhere. In the Western District of New York alone, the defendant assisted in collecting a total of approximately $19,000,000 in cash in drug proceeds.

In May 2014, as part of the conspiracy, Lucas was directed by co-defendant Williams to meet with another co-defendant, Sonia Hernandez, to receive kilograms of cocaine.

From July 15, 2014, through March 18, 2015, Lucas received 29 pallets of shipments of illegal drugs from Herman Aguirre. Each pallet contained a mixture of approximately 30-50 kilograms of cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl. The drugs were then distributed in the Western District of New York and in other cities and states. The defendant assisted in breaking down pallets of drugs and in collecting drug proceeds from surrounding states. The drugs were shipped in crates or pallets, disguised as microwaves or furniture. The drugs were unloaded at a local warehouse. Lucas also directed his girlfriend to store kilograms of drugs in the bedroom of her apartment in the Western District of New York

On March 23, 2015, Buffalo Police seized 22 kilograms of cocaine, two kilograms of heroin, and eight kilograms of fentanyl at the defendant’s girlfriend’s apartment.

Lucas was arrested in August 2016 along with 16 other defendants. All defendants have been convicted.

The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the DEA, under the direction of New York Division, Special Agent in Charge Raymond Donovan; Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Kevin Kelly; and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, under the direction of Jonathan D. Larson, New York Field Division.

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