FBI Announces 27 Arrests Involving Illegal Narcotics Trafficking
FBI Buffalo March 02, 2010 |
Today, James H. Robertson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Buffalo Field Office, announced that the FBI Safe Streets Task Force (FBI-SSTF) executed 27 federal arrest warrants and eight federal search warrants this morning. The arrests and searches follow a long-term investigation into the illegal activities of the Jay Vellon Heroin Distribution Network. Of the 27 arrest warrants, the FBI-SSTF executed 24 warrants locally, and the FBI in San Juan, Puerto Rico, executed three warrants. Notably, two of the arrest warrants were for individuals already incarcerated on unrelated charges.
The complaint alleges, that in the summer of 2005, an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation targeted a group of individuals to include Jay Vellon, Javier Vellon, Alexis Centeno and others involved in a heroin distribution network in Buffalo, New York. The investigation concentrated around the distribution of heroin under the stamp “Fear This,” and indicated that the traffickers were cutting their heroin with ketamine, a horse tranquilizer, which resulted in the deaths of several individuals locally. After extensive media coverage regarding the overdose deaths, Vellon’s distribution network retreated. Some of the individuals responsible for the “Fear This” heroin moved to Puerto Rico, others were arrested following other investigations, and others simply stopped their illegal narcotics trafficking. Subsequently, Jay Vellon was arrested and charged with possession of a firearm following the execution of a federal search warrant. After serving 18 months in prison, Vellon was released and placed on federal probation. Following his release, Vellon began to sell heroin and cocaine from multiple addresses on 7th Street in Buffalo, as well as from Whitney Place in Buffalo. Under Vellon’s direction, individuals involved in the drug organization made deliveries to Rick’s Tally Ho in Cheektowaga, New York, and 24 Karat Gold in Blasdell, New York.
The FBI-SSTF, with the assistance of other law enforcement agencies, executed federal arrest warrants this morning for the following individuals:
DEFENDANT |
DATE OF BIRTH |
ADDRESS |
STATUS |
1. Jay Vellon |
10/04/1972 |
Buffalo, NY |
In custody |
2. Dayane Velaquez |
02/20/1984 |
Buffalo, NY |
In custody |
3. Luis Javier Velon |
01/15/1985 |
Buffalo, NY |
In custody |
4. Javier Leon |
07/27/1982 |
Buffalo, NY |
In custody |
5. Luis Rodriguez |
07/13/1986 |
Buffalo, NY |
In custody |
6. Maria Moreno |
12/05/1978 |
Buffalo, NY |
In custody |
7. Angelo Dixon |
05/23/1973 |
Buffalo, NY |
In custody |
8. Jay Luis |
09/09/1991 |
San Juan, PR |
In custody |
9. Luis Vellon |
08/16/1946 |
San Juan, PR |
In custody |
10. Javier Vellon |
06/23/1978 |
Buffalo, NY |
In custody |
11. Alexis Centeno |
09/07/1973 |
Incarcerated (BF, NY) |
In custody |
12. Pedro Garcia |
03/28/1981 |
Buffalo, NY |
In custody |
13. Robert Oliver |
03/18/1974 |
Buffalo, NY |
In custody |
14. Kelly Kirk |
06/04/1987 |
Cheektowaga, NY |
In custody |
15. Matthew Farrell |
07/03/1978 |
Buffalo, NY |
In custody |
16. Alyson Tremblay |
10/19/1986 |
Cheektowaga, NY |
In custody |
17. Joseph Guarino |
03/17/1943 |
Las Vegas, NY |
In custody |
18. Gloria Milan |
12/26/1976 |
Cheektowaga, NY |
In custody |
19. Crysta Benning |
02/01/1987 |
Cheektowaga, NY |
In custody |
20. Amanda Kachinas |
05/21/1987 |
Cheektowaga, NY |
In custody |
21. Cynthia Sims |
10/13/1984 |
Batavia, NY |
Fugitive |
22. Amber Malkelke |
05/04/1987 |
Kenmore, NY |
In custody |
23. Lindsay Poliseno |
06/29/1988 |
Lakeview, NY |
In custody |
24. Roberto Roman |
02/21/1963 |
Buffalo, NY |
In custody |
25. Brenda Pirela |
01/15/1978 |
Buffalo, NY |
In custody |
26. Anthony Garcia |
01/01/1979 |
Incarcerated (SJ, PR) |
In custody |
27. Jose Sierra |
09/24/1973 |
Buffalo |
In custody |
The defendants are charged with committing numerous violations of federal law, including but not limited to Title 21, United States Code (USC), §841 (distribution of a controlled substance); Title 21 USC §841(a)(1) (possession with intent to distribute and distribution of a controlled substance); Title 21, USC, §843(b) (use of a communication facility in furtherance of a controlled substance felony); Title 21, USC, §846 (conspiracy and attempt to commit a controlled substance felony), Title 21, USC, §848 (knowingly, willfully, intentionally and unlawfully engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise); Title 21, USC, §860 (distribution of a controlled substance near a school); Title 18, USC, §1956 (laundering of monetary instruments); and Title 18, USC, §1957 (monetary transactions involving property derived from specified unlawful activity).
The defendants arrested locally will have their initial appearances today in front of the Honorable Hugh B. Scott, United States Magistrate for the Western District of New York.
The SSTF, with the assistance of additional law enforcement agencies, also executed eight federal search warrants at the following locations:
SEARCH WARRANT ADDRESS |
RESIDENCE OF |
1. Rick’sTally Ho |
Business |
2. 24 Karat Gold |
Business |
3. 555 7th Street (rear), Buffalo, New York |
Angelo Dixon |
4. 543 7th Street (lower and upper), Buffalo, New York |
Luis Javier Velon; Jay Vellon and Dayane Velazquez |
5. 409 7th Street, Buffalo, New York |
Javier Vellon |
6. 542 7th Street, Buffalo, New York |
Javier Leon and Maria Moreno |
7. 552 7th Street, Buffalo, New York |
Stash house |
8. 240 Lisbon Avenue (upper), Buffalo, New York |
Jay Vellon |
Over the course of this investigation, to include today’s searches, law enforcement has recovered large quantities of heroin, four weapons, jewelry, two vehicles and approximately $20,000.
This matter will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys George Burgasser and Michael McCabe, under the direction of Kathleen Mehltretter, United States Attorney for the Western District of New York.
It should be noted that the fact an individual has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation; the individual is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
This investigation continues.
The FBI-Safe Streets Task Force (FBI-SSTF) is comprised of the following agencies:
- Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives
- Erie County Probation Department
- New York State Police
- New York State Parole
- Amherst Police Department
- Buffalo Police Department
- Cheektowaga Police Department
The additional agencies assisted the FBI-SSTF with today’s arrests and searches:
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection
- Immigration and Customs Enforcement
- Drug Enforcement Administration
- United States Marshal’s Service
- Niagara County Sheriff’s Department
- Erie County Sheriff’s Department
- Hamburg Police Department