BUFFALO, N.Y.-Acting U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that William Padovani, 36, of Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge William M. Skretny to narcotics conspiracy. The charge carries a minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum of 40 years.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan T. Cullinane, who is handling the case, stated that in November 2014, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service intercepted a package shipped from Puerto Rico to an address in Buffalo. A search warrant was executed on the package, which contained cocaine and heroin packaged inside coffee grounds. After removing the controlled substances, the Drug Enforcement Administration conducted a controlled delivery of the package. During the delivery, the defendant arrived at the address and placed the package inside of his car. Subsequently, law enforcement officers observed Padovani drive away from the residence, stop his car, and exit the car to begin inspecting the package. The defendant was arrested at that time.
The conviction is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge James J. Hunt, New York Field Division, and the United States Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Inspector-in-Charge Shelly Binkowski.
Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 27, 2017, before Judge Skretny.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
