Drug dealer unknowingly sold cocaine to undercover cop

BUFFALO, NY – The Erie County District Attorney announced charges against a man who sold cocaine to an undercover police officer.

According to a release issued by the office, District Attorney’s Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announced that 26-year-old Marquelle D. Miller of Buffalo pleaded guilty yesterday afternoon before State Supreme Court Justice Paul B. Wojtaszek to two counts of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, Class “B” felonies. The defendant pleaded guilty to the highest sustainable charges in the indictment against him.

“The defendant admitted to selling a quantity of cocaine on two separate occasions. On July 16, 2020, at approximately 4:11 p.m., the defendant sold cocaine to an undercover officer. He sold cocaine to an undercover officer again at the same location on July 22, 2020. The defendant committed these crimes while pending sentence in a separate drug-related case,” Flynn’s office reported.

Miller pleaded guilty to one count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Fourth Degree, a Class “C” felony, on October 17, 2019. He admitted to possessing a quantity of cocaine during an arrest on LaSalle and Bailey Avenues on June 11, 2019. The defendant claimed to suffer from a drug addiction. Justice Wojtaszek ordered the defendant to complete a judicial diversion program prior to sentencing.

Miller faces a maximum of 12 years in prison when he is sentenced on Thursday, April 15, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. He remains released on $40,000 bail posted following his arraignment.

DA Flynn commends the Buffalo Police Department and the Lackawanna Police Department Narcotics Unit for their work in the investigation.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Frank A. Strano of the DA’s Narcotics Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Louis C. Mussari of the DA’s Felony Trials Bureau.

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