Buffalo Man Pleads Guilty To Cocaine Conspiracy

BUFFALO, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Keith Cooley, 22, of Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. to conspiracy to distribute 28 grams or more of crack cocaine. The charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of 40 years, and a $5,000,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles J. Volkert, who is handling the case, stated that between March and May 16, 2019, the defendant conspired with others to distribute crack cocaine in the Silver Creek area.

Between April 3 and May 9, 2019, investigators conducted six controlled purchases of crack cocaine from either the defendant or a co-defendant. On May 16, 2019, investigators executed a search warrant at an apartment on Central Avenue in Silver Creek. They recovered digital scales containing cocaine residue, a small amount of illegal narcotics, and approximately $700. Cooley was arrested at the scene.

The plea is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Gary Loeffert; Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Kevin Kelly; the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Ray Donovan, New York Field Division; the Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force, under the direction of Cattaraugus County Sheriff's Office Lieutenant Ronald Lott; the Evans Police Department, under the direction of Chief Douglas J. Czora; and the New York State Police, under the direction of Major James Hall.

Sentencing is scheduled for July 14, 2020, before Judge Sinatra.