Department of Justice
For Immediate Release
Buffalo Man Indicted for Drug-Related Murder
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul Jr. announced today that a federal grand jury has returned a three count indictment charging Taire Chaney, 23, of Buffalo, NY, with narcotics conspiracy, discharge of firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and discharge of firearm causing death in furtherance of drug trafficking. The charges carry a minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life, and a $1,500,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Wei Xiang, who is handling the case, stated that according to the indictment, Chaney participated in a drug trafficking conspiracy involving cocaine and crack cocaine. On February 29, 2012, in furtherance of that conspiracy, the defendant participated in the shooting murder of Brad Daniels.
“This represents the third cold case murder charged this week,” said U.S. Attorney Hochul.
The indictment is the result of an investigation into drug trafficking at the Perry Housing Projects in Buffalo. Chaney is the 13th defendant to be charged in the case. A total of six defendants have been convicted.
The defendant will be arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge Hugh B. Scott on July 28, 2015, at 10:00 a.m.
Today’s indictment is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Safe Streets Task Force and the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Daniel Derenda. The Safe Streets Task Force partner agencies include the Amherst Police Department; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; Cheektowaga Police Department; Erie County Sheriff’s Office; Hamburg Police Department; Lancaster Police Department; Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority; New York State Department of Correctional Services; New York State Police; U.S. Border Patrol; and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement–Homeland Security Investigations.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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