Niagara Falls Man Sentenced For His Role In Cocaine Conspiracy

BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Joseph Jones, a/k/a Tio, 56, of Niagara Falls, NY, who was convicted of conspiring to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, 500 grams or more of cocaine, was sentenced to serve 90 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura A. Higgins, who handled the case, stated that between October 2016 and September 29, 2017, the defendant distributed cocaine with various co-conspirators in the Buffalo/Niagara Falls area. On three occasions in August of 2017, defendant received a combined total of two and one-half kilograms of cocaine from his co-conspirators for the purpose of distributing it. During the course of the conspiracy, Jones regularly distributed at least one kilogram of cocaine per month on behalf of the organization for which he distributed.  To date, two of Jones’ co-conspirators have been convicted, while charges remain pending against four others. 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.

The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Gary Loeffert.