CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051
BUFFALO, N.Y. — U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Louis Gilbert, 44, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of conspiring to possess with intent to distribute, and distributing, 500 grams or more of cocaine, was sentenced to serve 36 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Richard Antoine and Laura A. Higgins, who handled the case, stated that between July 2019, and January 10, 2020, the defendant conspired with others to sell cocaine. On January 10, 2020, Gilbert, and co-defendant Saan Thompson engaged in a text communication regarding a drug sale. Thereafter, investigators set up surveillance in the vicinity of 189 May Street and observed Thompson and Gilbert meet inside of the residence. Afterwards, Erie County Sheriff’s deputies conducted a traffic stop of the vehicle Gilbert was driving and he was found in possession of suspected cocaine. Saan Thompson was previously convicted.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Scarpino; the Federal Bureau of Investigation Safe Streets Task Force, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Jeremy Bell; the Erie County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff John Garcia; the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia; and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge John B. Devito.
# # # #