Woman Sentenced in Cocaine Trafficking Case 

BUFFALO, NY—U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Jazmine Barreto, 33, of Derby, New York, who was convicted by a federal jury on April 20, 2011 of one count of conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, one count of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of 500 grams or more of cocaine, and five counts of using a telephone in causing and facilitating the commission of acts constituting felonies, was sentenced to 63 months in prison by U.S. District Court Judge Richard J. Arcara.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph M. Tripi and Timothy C. Lynch, who prosecuted the case, stated that evidence showed that from April 2007 to April 2008, the defendant obtained large quantities of cocaine and supplied it to other cocaine dealers on the West Side of Buffalo. The recipients in turn processed the cocaine into larger amounts and resold it throughout Buffalo. The trial evidence included court authorized wiretaps in which the defendant arranged cocaine deals with co-conspirators. Some of these conversations took place at the defendant’s place of employment.

At today’s sentencing proceeding, Barreto stated that her actions were the result of the need for more money to pay her bills and support her three children. The government responded that the defendant had a job, and in fact, some of the conversations setting up drug deals, occurred while Baretto was at work. The government further stated that the defendant was involved in drug dealing since at least 2005.

“This case presented a somewhat unusual scenario—a major narcotics supplier who happened to be a woman,” said U.S. Attorney Hochul. “This case should serve as yet another example that our law enforcement partners are ready, willing and able follow the evidence to wherever it leads, and that our office will prosecute all who are responsible for a particular crime.”

The conviction was the culmination of an investigation on the part of special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Christopher M. Piehota, and investigators from the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Christopher Cummings.