Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Latrice Mumphrey, age 42, of Albany, and Victor Turner, age 68, of Troy, New York, pled guilty today to conspiracy to commit money laundering and conspiracy to distribute marijuana, respectively.

United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; John B. DeVito, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF); Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division; Chief Daniel DeWolf of the Troy Police Department; and Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), made the announcement.

In pleading guilty, Mumphrey and Turner admitted to being members of a marijuana/THC and money laundering organization that shipped marijuana and THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) from Fresno, California, to locations throughout the United States, including the Capital Region.

Mumphrey admitted to conspiring with Dwight A. Singletary, aka “Nutt” and “Mike Jones,” and her husband, Lawrence Mumphrey, aka “L,” to launder the proceeds of marijuana and THC sales by purchasing cashier’s checks with cash drug proceeds.

Federal law requires financial institutions to complete a currency transaction report for cash transactions over $10,000.

To avoid the reporting requirement and otherwise conceal the cash drug proceeds, Walker purchased four cashier’s checks in amounts slightly below the reporting threshold with $37,150 in cash drug proceeds. The cashier’s checks were payable to Dwight Singletary; a law firm used by Singletary; a company from which Dwight Singletary and McKenzie Merrialice Coles, aka “Kenzie,” purchased real estate; and to a person from whom Dwight Singletary and his company, DAS Empire, Inc., purchased real estate.

Turner admitted to regularly receiving packages of marijuana shipped from Fresno by Dwight Singletary and McKenzie Coles at his residence in Troy. Turner was notified of the shipments by Rosemary Coles, who texted Turner tracking information and shipping receipts for the packages of marijuana. The marijuana in the packages, which were often sealed with eBay packing tape, was concealed in dog food containers and suitcases. At times, Rosemary Coles and David Singletary, aka “DB,” picked up the marijuana from Turner at his residence; at other times, Turner delivered the marijuana to Rosemary Coles at her residence in Troy. Turner was paid between $300 and $400 for each package of marijuana he received.

Mumphrey faces up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $500,000, and may also be required to serve up to 3 years of supervised release. Turner faces up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $1 million, and will be required to serve at least 3 years of supervised release.

A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.

Mumphrey and Turner were charged in an indictment with Dwight and David Singletary, McKenzie and Rosemary Coles, Lawrence Mumphrey and 17 other people charging marijuana distribution and money laundering conspiracies, firearms offenses, and other crimes. Dwight Singletary, David Singletary, McKenzie Coles, Rosemary Coles, and Lawrence Mumphrey have pled not guilty and are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. The charges in the indictment are merely accusations.

Two other defendants, Kristle Walker and Sammy Olague, previously pled guilty and are pending sentencing.

The ATF, DEA, Troy Police Department, and HSI are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cyrus P.W. Rieck and Dustin C. Segovia are prosecuting the case.

This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.