Buffalo Man Pleads Guilty To Drug Trafficking Charges And Admits His Role In A Drug-Related Murder

BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy Jr. announced today that Taire Chaney, 28, of Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty before Senior U.S. District Judge William M. Skretny to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and a $1,000,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Adler, who is handling the case, stated that between 2008 and March 9, 2012, the defendant conspired with co-conspirator Tyshawn Bradley and others to sell cocaine and crack cocaine in and around the Perry Housing Projects in the City of Buffalo. The defendant admitted that Brad Daniels was murdered in 2012 as a result of this conspiracy.

In the summer of 2010, Chaney and Bradley perceived that a rival drug dealer was encroaching on their territory as the rival began selling crack cocaine in the Perry Projects. Bradley confronted the rival over this infringement. On July 29, 2010, an associate of Bradley was shot and killed on Perry Street, and Bradley believed that the death was a result of the feud with the rival drug dealer. In the following months, Chaney, Bradley, and another co-conspirator followed and shot at the rival drug dealer. On February 29, 2012, they saw the rival drug dealer riding in a Cadillac Escalade, which was driven by Brad Daniels. Chaney, Bradley and the co-conspirator followed the Escalade as it dropped off the rival drug dealer and continued driving. After the Escalade stopped on Bardol Street in Buffalo, Chaney, Bradley and the co-conspirator approached the car. Chaney shot a .45 caliber handgun multiple times through the driver’s side of the Escalade, while Bradley shot a .45 caliber handgun multiple times through the rear and passenger side of the Escalade. The co-conspirator discharged a 9mm semi-automatic handgun through the rear of the Escalade. Daniels, who was driving the Escalade, suffered three gunshot, and died. The investigation determined that one of the shots fired by Chaney resulted in Daniels death.

Tyshawn Bradley was previously convicted and sentenced to serve 30 years in prison.

Chaney’s plea is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Safe Streets Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Stephen Belongia, and the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Byron Lockwood.

Sentencing is scheduled for November 18, 2020, at 9:00 a.m. before Judge Skretny.