Two Men Plead Guilty to Cocaine Charges Stemming from 31-Gang Investigation

BUFFALO, NY—U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Malik Samuel, 26, and Darrell Frederick, 28, both of Buffalo, New York, have pleaded guilty before District Judge Richard J. Arcara to distributing cocaine. Samuel also entered a guilty plea for unlawful possession of a firearm. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison, a fine of $2,000,000 or both.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael L. McCabe, who is handling the case, stated that the guilty pleas follow a lengthy investigation into the drug-trafficking activities of the "31-Gang" on Buffalo's east side. Samuel entered a guilty plea for distributing over two kilograms of powder cocaine in 2008 and 2009, while Frederick entered a guilty plea for distributing crack cocaine during the same time period. Samuel also entered a guilty plea for unlawfully possessing a .45 caliber handgun which Buffalo Police officers recovered during a vehicle chase with Samuel on Genesee St. and Bailey Ave. in the early morning hours of February 8, 2009.

Frederick and Samuel were arrested along with 32 others during a takedown of the “31 Gang” in February 2009. To date, 18 of the defendants have been convicted.

The pleas are the culmination of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Safe Streets Task Force under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James Robertson, and the Buffalo Police Department under the direction of Commissioner Daniel Derenda.

Samuel will be sentenced on February 25, 2011 at 1:00 p.m. before Judge Arcara. Frederick will be sentenced on February 28, 2011 at 1:00 p.m., also before Judge Arcara.