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Press Release

Three Buffalo Men Arrested On Cocaine Charges

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of New York

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 Derrick Pitts, 46, Shawn Cunningham, 46, and Travel Jefferson, 36, all of Buffalo, NY, were arrested and charged by criminal complaint with conspiracy to possess with  intent to distribute and to distribute 28 grams or more of crack cocaine. The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of 40 years and a $5,000,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel L. Violanti, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, between April 2017 and May 17, 2017, the defendants conspired to sell and sold several ounces of crack cocaine on Jewitt Avenue in the Central Park area of Buffalo. The investigation included undercover drug purchases on April 17; May 16; and May 24, 2017.

During the execution of search warrants at residences located at 269 Jewett Avenue and 1945 Hertel Avenue, law enforcement officers recovered drug paraphernalia, including packaging, and scales with suspected cocaine residue, a plastic bag containing suspected cocaine, two plastic baggies containing suspected crack cocaine, cash, and a cell phone.

The defendants made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge H. Kenneth Schroeder. Shawn Cunningham and Travel Jefferson were released on conditions; Derrick Pitts is being held pending a detention hearing on June 2, 1017 at 10:00 a.m.

The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge James J. Hunt, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in Charge Adam S. Cohen.

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.

Updated May 30, 2017