TASK
FORCES UNITE IN DRUG TRAFFICKING INVESTIGATION
Today,
Special Agent in Charge Peter J. Ahearn, Federal Bureau of Investigation
(FBI), announces that FBI Buffalo, along with the assistance of approximately
50 agencies to include members of the Career Criminal Task Force (CCTF)
and the Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF), executed 20 federal arrest
warrants, 14 federal search warrants, 4 consent searches, and made 1 local
arrest.
This investigation focused on the drug trafficking activities of AMEEN
DHALI, BASHEER SALEH, SADEK SHARIAN, and their associates. Their organization
was involved in a large scale hydroponic marijuana smuggling operation
across the Canadian/United States border, and crack cocaine and cocaine
distribution activity in the Western New York area. The investigation
involved the use of court-ordered wire interceptions, undercover drug
purchases, and traditional police investigative techniques.
The following individuals were arrested today on federal charges of knowingly,
willfully and unlawfully conspiring to possess with intent to distribute
and to distribute cocaine and marijuana, and did knowingly, intentionally,
and unlawfully use a communication facility to commit a drug felony all
in violation of Title 21 United States Code Sections 841, 843(b) and 846:
1. AMEEN DHALI
DOB: 10/08/1971
Address: Richmond Avenue, Buffalo, New York
2. SIOBHAN TAYLOR
DOB: 08/17/1978
Address: Richmond Avenue, Buffalo, New York
3. ABDUL ALMONTASER
DOB: 09/25/1975
Address: Pulaski Street, Lackawanna, New York
4. ANTHONY DIAZ
DOB: 02/16/1960
Address: Bailey Avenue, Buffalo, New York
5. RAJEH ALMONTASER
DOB: 04/27/1979
Address: Ingham Avenue, Lackawanna, New York
6. MOGEEB NAGI
DOB: 10/06/1978
Address: Olcott Street, Lackawanna, New York
7. ROBIN JONES
DOB: 12/04/1972
Address: Breckenridge Avenue, Buffalo, New York
8. STEVEN JACKSON
DOB: 11/01/1973
Address: Good Street, Buffalo, New York
9. DEREK MCQUILLER
DOB: 09/09/1973
Address: Sterling Avenue, Buffalo, New York
10. SAMEER TAHER
DOB: 03/05/1971
Address: Pineview, Hamburg, New York
11. SADEK SHARIAN
DOB: 03/12/1975
Address: Holland Avenue, Lackawanna, New York
12. BASHEER
SALEH
DOB: 06/07/1984
Address: Holland Avenue, Lackawanna, New York
13. MOHAMMED
ABDO
DOB: 12/24/1974
Address: Grape Street, Lackawanna, New York
14. RAMON ACEVEDO
DOB: 05/26/1981
Address: Hopkins Street, Buffalo, New York
15. FRANK MASELLA
DOB: 03/22/1978
Address: Martin Road, Lackawanna, New York
16. ATANAS CRNGAROV
DOB: 11/29/1978
Address: Northridge Drive, West Seneca, New York
17. KRISTOPHER
FOOSE
DOB: 04/14/1983
Address: Heatherwood, Hamburg, New York
18. ERIC GAYDEK
DOB: 06/19/1984
Address: Boston State Road, Hamburg, New York
19. NAGI ALSARI
aka ALASARI
DOB: 01/10/1980
Address: Wilkesbarre Avenue, Lackawanna, New York
20. REY HERNANDEZ
DOB: 07/07/1977
Address: Columbus Parkway, Buffalo, New York
The individuals
arrested today will be arraigned before Federal Magistrate Judge H.
Kenneth Schroeder, Jr.
Similar charges
will be lodged against the following individual who is already in custody
in Lorain County, Ohio:
1. SHAWTORRIAN TRAVIS
DOB: 08/12/1979
The following individual
was arrested on local charges:
1. WILLIAM JEFFERSON
DOB: 01/03/1970
Address: Center Street, Lackawanna, New York
Federal
search warrants were executed today at the following locations:
1.
661 Richmond Avenue (Lower), Buffalo, New York
2.
13 Pulaski Street, Lackawanna, New York
3.
2756 Bailey Avenue, Buffalo, New York
4.
179 Ingham Avenue (Upper), Lackawanna, New York
5.
148 Olcott Street, Lackawanna, New York
6.
56 Sterling (Upper), Buffalo, New York
7.
4740 Pineview, Hamburg, New York
8.
98 Holland Avenue, Lackawanna, New York
9.
142 Holland Avenue, Lackawanna, New York
10.
27 Grape Street (Lower), Lackawanna, New York
11.
349 Martin Road, Lackawanna, New York
12.
152 Northridge Drive, West Seneca, New York
13.
110 Wilkesbarre Avenue, Lackawanna, New York
14.
674 Hopkins Street, Buffalo, New York
Marijuana, cocaine,
cash, drug paraphernalia, and one handgun are among the items seized
today.
This case will be prosecuted by the United States Attorney's Office
for the Western District of New York. 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.
FBI Buffalo would like to thank the following agencies which provided
K-9 Units to assist in the execution of today's search warrants:
1. Amherst,
New York, Police Department
2. Cheektowaga, New York, Police Department
3. Niagara Falls, New York, Police Department
4. Ithaca, New York, Police Department
5. Tompkins County, New York, Police Department
6. Cattaraugus County, New York, Sheriff's Office
7. United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement
8. Linsey Police Service, Canada
9. Saugeen Shores Police Service, Canada
10. Niagara County, New York, Sheriff's Office
11. Alcohol, Tobacco, & Firearms
12. Orchard Park, New York, Police Department
13. North Tonawanda, New York, Police Department
14. Erie County, New York, Sheriff's Office
15. Niagara Regional Police Service
16. West Seneca, New York, Police Department
17. Peterboro Community Police Service, Canada
18. New York State Police
19. Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority
20. Orleans County, New York, Sheriff's Office
The Albany, Cleveland,
and Pittsburgh FBI Field Divisions also assisted with today's arrests
and searches by providing their SWAT and/or Evidence Response Teams
(ERT). The Hamburg, New York, Police Department also assisted with today's
operations.
This investigation continues.
The Career Criminal
Task Force is comprised of the following agencies:
-
Alcohol,
Tobacco and Firearms Administration (ATF)
-
Army
National Guard (ANG)
-
Buffalo,
New York, Municipal Housing Authority (BMHA)
-
Cheektowaga,
New York, Police Department (CPD)
-
Department
of Homeland Security, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
-
Erie
County, New York, Sheriff's Office (ECSO)
-
New
York State Parole (NYP)
-
Niagara
Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA)
The Western New
York Joint Terrorism Task Force is comprised of the following agencies:
-
Alcohol,
Tobacco, and Firearms
-
Amherst,
New York, Police Department
-
Brighton,
New York, Police Department
-
Buffalo,
New York, Police Department
-
Central
Intelligence Agency
-
Department
of Homeland Security, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
-
Drug
Enforcement Administration
-
Erie
County, New York, Sheriff's Office
-
Federal
Air Marshal's Service (TSA)
-
Federal
Bureau of Investigation
-
Federal
Protective Service
-
Food
& Drug Administration
-
Greece,
New York, Police Department
-
Internal
Revenue Service
-
Lackawanna,
New York, Police Department
-
Monroe
County, New York, Sheriff's Office
-
New
York State Attorney General's Office
-
New
York State Police
-
Niagara
County, New York, Sheriff's Office
-
Niagara
Falls, New York, Police Department
-
Rochester,
New York, Police Department
-
Treasury
Inspector General for Tax Administration
-
United
States Attorney's Office, Western District of New York
-
United
States Border Patrol
-
United
States Coast Guard Investigative Service
-
United
States Secret Service
Field
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