LRGP Associate Sentenced To 11-½ Years

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 Demario Devon Nance, 34, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of RICO conspiracy, was sentenced to a total of 138 months by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas S. Duszkiewicz and Joel L. Violanti, who handled the case, stated that Nance assisted his cousin Dewayne Gray and other members of the LRGP gang in dealing crack cocaine within the gang’s territory in the streets surrounding the Broadway Market area. The LRGP gang, in addition to cocaine distribution, also engaged multiple acts a violence to protect their territory, including numerous shootings and murders as part of the racketeering activity. AUSA Duszkiewicz noted that Nance was sentenced to 120 months on the RICO charge to be served consecutively with an 18-month sentence imposed for violating the terms of his supervised release from a prior Federal drug conviction. Gray, Nance and 16 other defendants were previously convicted as a result of the same investigation.

The sentencing 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 Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James J. Hunt, New York Field Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Ashan M. Benedict, New York Field Office and the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Daniel Derenda.