United States Drug Enforcement Administration

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Ray Donovan, and U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced that Andrew Medina, 29, of Niagara Falls, NY, was arrested and charged by complaint with attempting to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes. The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, and a maximum of life.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan E. Leydecker, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, on September 1, 2020, a United States Postal Inspector executed a federal search warrant on a parcel, which contained approximately 1.14 pounds of suspected methamphetamine. On September 4, 2020, a controlled delivery of the parcel was conducted to a residence on South Avenue in Niagara Falls. Shortly after it was dropped off on the porch of the South Avenue address, an individual, later identified as the defendant, retrieved the package, got into a vehicle, and departed the residence with a small child. 

After Medina returned to the residence a short time later, a monitoring device, which had been placed in the parcel, sent an alert that the parcel was opened inside of the residence. A member of the investigative team then observed the defendant, on a rear second floor balcony, throw the parcel box. Subsequently, a search warrant was executed at the residence. Investigators recovered a pistol with a loaded magazine and approximately $15,000 of U.S. currency. Medina was arrested at that time.

The criminal complaint is the result of an investigation by the United States Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division, and the DEA Buffalo Resident Office.

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.