BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul Jr. announced today that Antwan Hugley, 37, of Buffalo, NY, who was indicted in June 2015 on a charge of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, five kilograms or more of cocaine, was arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy. The charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life, a fine of $10,000,000, or both.
“I commend the unrelenting efforts of FBI special agents who did not give up and continued to track this defendant until he was taken into custody," said U.S. Attorney Hochul.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Edward H. White and Michael J. Adler, who are handling the case, stated that at the time of his indictment in June 2015, the defendant evaded arrest. Law enforcement officers continued to investigate and tracked Hugley’s whereabouts to Orlando, Florida where he was arrested on June 29, 2016.
The defendant is accused of conspiring with others including co-defendant Trammel Bishop between 2011 and December 9, 2014 to distribute cocaine. On Aug. 13, 2013, Houston, Texas police officers encountered Bishop at the Mega Bus parking lot in Houston. Officers asked Bishop if they could search his suitcase and he consented. The officers discovered approximately five kilograms of cocaine hidden in the back of the suitcase. Bishop indicated that he was intending to travel back to Buffalo, NY. Bishop has been convicted and is awaiting sentencing.
Hugley pleaded not guilty and is being held pending a detention hearing on July 29, 2016 at 10:30 a.m. before Judge McCarthy.
Today’s arraignment is the culmination of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Adam S. Cohen, Special Agent in Charge, and the Houston Police Department, under the direction of Police Chief Martha I. Montalvo.
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.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
