Buffalo Man Indicted On Drug Charges

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 a federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Mikel Lowe, aka L-O, 23, of Buffalo, NY, with possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine and heroin, and possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes. The charges carry a maximum penalty of life in prison.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul C. Parisi, who is handling the case, stated on February 28, 2017, the defendant possessed crack cocaine, fentanyl, and heroin, which was intended for distribution in the Buffalo area. In addition, while in possession of the illegal narcotics, Lowe also possessed a firearm.

Lowe was arraigned this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Hugh B. Scott and is being held pending a detention hearing on June 9, 2017 at 10:00 a.m.

The indictment is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Safe Streets Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Adam S. Cohen, the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Daniel Derenda, the Erie County Sheriff’s Department, under the direction of Timothy Howard, and the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge James J. Hunt, New York Field Division.

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.