Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 50-year-old Darrien Payne of Buffalo pleaded guilty this morning before Erie County Court Judge Sheila A. DiTullio to two counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Second Degree (Class “A-II” felonies). The defendant pleaded guilty to the highest sustainable charge in the indictment against him.
On April 18, 2020, at approximately 10:30 p.m., the defendant was the subject of a narcotics investigation by members of the Buffalo Police Department and Erie County Sheriff’s Office when he was stopped on the Scajaquada Expressway near the Grant Street exit for a traffic violation. During a search of the defendant’s vehicle, investigators found approximately 30 grams of cocaine hidden inside of an air vent. The defendant consented to a search of his residence on Tacoma Avenue in the City of Buffalo. During the early morning hours of April 19, 2020, investigators found an additional quantity of cocaine, weighing approximately 247 grams, packaged into plastic bags inside of a duffle bag that was hidden in the attic. Investigators also recovered approximately $8,000 in cash.
The defendant was arraigned in Buffalo City Court on drug charges. He was released on $90,000 bail.
As part of the ongoing narcotics investigation, a subsequent search warrant was obtained for the defendant, his vehicle and his home. On November 17, 2020, at 6:23 p.m., deputies initiated a traffic stop to execute the search warrant as the defendant was driving eastbound on the Scajaquada Expressway. A plastic bag containing approximately 140 grams of cocaine was found inside the defendant’s pants pocket. Investigators also found approximately $11,000 in cash during a search of the defendant’s residence on Amherst Street in the City of Buffalo.
Payne faces a maximum of 28 years in prison when he is sentenced as a second felony offender on Monday, April 18, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. He continues to remain held without bail.
DA Flynn commends Chief DJ Granville, Detective Adam Imiolo, Deputy Rick Lundberg, Deputy Robert Galbraith of the Erie County Sheriff’s Office and Detective Raymond Krug and Detective Tom Herbert of the Buffalo Police Department for their work in these investigations.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney James W. Mansour, II of the Narcotics Unit.