Arizona Man Sentenced On Drug Charge

CONTACT:      Barbara Burns
PHONE:         (716) 843-5817
FAX:            (716) 551-3051

BUFFALO, N.Y. – Acting U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Elijah Chaffino, 37, of Scottsdale, Arizona, who was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, 50 kilograms or more of marijuana, was sentenced to time served by Senior U.S. District Judge William M. Skretny. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy C. Lynch, who handled the case, stated that between early 2009 and February 1, 2012, the defendant conspired with co-defendants Jordan Ali, Shane Graffman and others, to distribute marijuana.

In early 2009, after developing a friendship with Jordan Ali, Chaffino began shipping packages, which contained marijuana, from Arizona to addresses located in Buffalo, at Ali’s direction. Some of these packages were shipped to co-defendant Jason Nati’s address on Villa Avenue in Buffalo, while others were sent to individuals residing in the Niagara Falls area. Chaffino sent the last package in January 2012, which contained approximately 30 pounds of marijuana. The package was intercepted by law enforcement officers in Buffalo.

A total of six defendants were arrested and convicted in this case. 

The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of James J. Hunt, Special Agent-in-Charge, New York Field Division; Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Kevin Kelly; Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge James D. Robnett; United States Postal Service Inspection Service, under the direction of Inspector-in-Charge Shelly Binkowski; Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Adam S. Cohen; Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Daniel Derenda; Erie County Sheriff's Department, under the direction of Sheriff Tim Howard; Niagara Frontier Transit Authority, under the direction of Chief George Gast; Tempe, Arizona Police Department; Apache County, Arizona Sheriff's Department; and Oklahoma State Police.