BUFFALO — The second of four Falls men arrested in a series of raids by federal, state and local law enforcement agents on Aug. 28 has pleaded guilty to federal drug and guns charges in U.S. District Court in Buffalo.
Jermaine McQueen, 46, of the Falls, pleaded guilty to a single count of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. The charge carries a minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum sentence of 40 years, and a fine up to $5 million.
A co-defendant, Edward Rollie, 49, of the Falls, previously pleaded guilty to single counts of possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Rollie’s charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a possible maximum sentence of life behind bars.
McQueen, Rollie, and two other men were arrested in a series of raids that targeted at least eight locations in the Falls, including homes, apartments and a business.
Led by agents from the FBI Buffalo Field Office and detectives with the Falls Police Narcotics & Intelligence Division (NID), investigators seized 1.5 kilograms of fentanyl, over a kilogram of cocaine, three firearms and $25,000 in U.S. currency.
Federal law enforcement sources have described McQueen, Rollie, and the other suspects arrested in the raids, as “part of a drug trafficking ring operating in (the) Falls.”
The two men still facing charges are Paul Fields, 39, and Rashawn Salmon, 39, both of the Falls. Fields has been charged with possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. Salmon is charged with possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
An affidavit from an FBI special agent, embedded with Falls police as part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), indicated that the charges stem from an ongoing investigation into “drug trafficking and violent gang activity” in the Falls. The agent said that the investigation identified Fields, Salmon, McQueen and Rollie as “individual(s) engaged in narcotics trafficking.”
Investigators executed 3 search warrants tied to McQueen., at 615 Chestnut Ave., Apt. 2, 1817 North Ave. and 30-F Packard Court. They recovered 405 grams of cocaine, approximately 300 grams of fentanyl, and approximately six grams of crack cocaine, drug packaging materials and $10,625 in cash.
At the North Avenue residence, agents said they found $10,000 cash. They reported seizing a Cobra Y 9mm semi-automatic firearm from the Packard Court apartment.
During the investigation, law enforcement officers said they made controlled purchases of fentanyl and cocaine from McQueen.