DOJ Seal

Department of Justice

U.S. Attorney's Office
Western District of New York

For Immediate Release

Wednesday, December 18, 2013
William J. Hochul, Jr.
, United States Attorney
Contact: Barbara Burns

Wheatfield Man Pleads Guilty to Drug Charges

BUFFALO, N.Y.--U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced that Filippo Inglima, 47, of Wheatfield, N.Y., an Italian citizen, who was convicted of conspiracy to distribute a thousand kilograms or more of marijuana and five kilograms or more of cocaine, was sentenced to 121 months in prison, by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara. The defendant will also forfeit $39,456,00 in United States currency, a rifle and ammunition, and a sport utility vehicle.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Frank T. Pimintel and Joseph M. Guerra, who handled the case, stated that from 2006 to 2007, Inglima owned Filippo’s Restaurant in Buffalo. Co-defendant David Gambino invested in the restaurant to help Inglima pay bills and other expenses of the restaurant. After that, Gambino asked Inglima to assist in the smuggling of drugs and money to and from Canada. Between 2006 and November 2009, Inglima conspired with Gambino and others to import quantities of marijuana from Canada and distribute the drug to other individuals in Buffalo. In addition, Inglima transported quantities of cocaine from the United States into Canada. The defendant picked up the cocaine in different parts of the United States including Chicago, Ohio, New York City and New Orleans. During the period of the conspiracy, the defendant conspired to distribute 100 kilograms of cocaine and 1,800 kilograms of marijuana.   

Inglima was arrested in November 2009 along with Gambino and 22 others. All defendants have been convicted. David Gambino was sentenced to 188 months in prison in November 2013.                 

The sentencing is the culmination of an investigation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of James C. Spero, Special Agent in Charge, the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Brian R. Crowell, New York Field Division, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of Resident Agent in Charge Frank Christiano, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Brian P. Boetig, the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Michael Cerretto, and the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Daniel Derenda.

 

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New York Field Division