Buffalo Man Going To Prison For Selling Cocaine

BUFFALO, N.Y.—U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Kasan Alkafi, 49, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of possessing with intent to distribute, and distributing, cocaine, was sentenced to serve 24 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan T. Cullinane, who handled the case, stated that between July 2016 and November 2017, the defendant sold cocaine to various customers in the Buffalo area. On July 17, 2016, Buffalo Police officers executed a search warrant at Alkafi’s Minton Street residence and recovered approximately 236 grams of cocaine, cutting agent, scales, drug packaging materials, and $3,105 in cash. The defendant was prosecuted by the Erie County District Attorney and sentenced to serve five years of probation.

On October 11, 2017, the DEA and Buffalo Police conducted an undercover purchase of cocaine from an individual identified as co-conspirator 1, a known cocaine distribution associate of Alkafi. On November 3, 2017, the DEA and the Erie County Sheriff's Office conducted a second controlled purchase of cocaine, this time from the defendant. Immediately following the second controlled purchase, search warrants were executed at residences on Genesee Street and N. Legion Road. During the search warrants, investigators recovered nearly five grams of cocaine, packaging bags, cutting agent, baggies with drug residue, a small amount of marijuana, marijuana grinder, two digital scales, and approximately $6,060 in cash.

The sentencing is result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Ray Donovan; the Erie County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Timothy Howard; and the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Byron Lockwood.