Department of Justice
For Immediate Release
Six Defendants Charged in Superseding Indictment with Narcotics Conspiracy
BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that a federal grand jury has returned a superseding indictment charging six defendants with narcotics conspiracy and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Named in the indictment are:
- Shawn Woods, 26, of Buffalo, NY;
- Mikel Lowe, 24, of Buffalo, NY;
- Aaron Mack, 26, of Buffalo, NY;
- Michael Walker, 26, of Buffalo, NY;
- Shameris Washington, 20, of Buffalo, NY; and
- Maurice Rice, 20, of Buffalo, NY.
Some of the defendants are also facing additional charges of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, heroin, butyryl fentanyl, furanyl fentanyl, and U-47700, maintaining a drug premises, and possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine and marijuana. The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of 40 years, and a $5,000,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul C. Parisi, who is handling the case, stated that according to the superseding indictment, the defendants are charged with trafficking heroin, cocaine, crack cocaine, fentanyl and other illegal narcotics over the course of seven years in the Western New York area. The defendants are also accused of possessing numerous firearms in furtherance of their drug distribution activities.
A detention hearing is scheduled for the six defendants on March 30, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge H. Kenneth Schroeder.
The superseding indictment is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Kevin P. Lyons; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Ashan Benedict, New York Field Division; the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Byron Lockwood; the Lackawanna Police Department, under the direction of Chief James Michel; and the Erie County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Timothy Howard.
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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