Isiah Ti-Quan Clements, also known as "Zay," has pleaded guilty to charges of marijuana trafficking and money laundering. The 38-year-old from Troy, New York, admitted his involvement in a large-scale operation that cultivated and distributed marijuana across the United States.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III, alongside Bryan Miller from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Frank A. Tarentino III from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Troy Police Chief Daniel DeWolf, and Erin Keegan from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
Sarcone stated: “This prosecution of a sophisticated marijuana trafficking and money laundering organization was made possible by the close collaboration of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies on both coasts. Marijuana remains illegal under federal law and we continue to investigate and prosecute the criminal organizations profiting mightily from its illicit distribution.”
Clements confessed to being part of an organization that shipped thousands of kilograms of marijuana from Fresno, California to various locations including New York's Capital Region. He also admitted to laundering proceeds for this operation.
Packages were sent by Dwight A. Singletary II ("Nutt" or "Mike Jones") and McKenzie Merrialice Coles ("Kenzie") to Clements' home and a restaurant in Troy. Shipments were arranged for his sister LaFay Pearson ("Lala") at her apartment in Troy, with additional coordination involving his aunt Consanga Harris ("Sondy"). These packages were later collected by David Singletary ("DB").
Clements received payments ranging between $300 to $400 per package received during this operation which spanned June 2018 to May 2022. He managed approximately 1,102 kilograms (2,429 pounds) of marijuana during this period.
In addition to drug trafficking activities, Clements engaged in money laundering activities such as exchanging small bills for larger ones at financial institutions in the Capital Region; purchasing cashier’s checks with cash drug proceeds; traveling with cash-filled suitcases; depositing proceeds into accounts held by Coles and Dwight Singletary; sending money transfers; and paying contractors working on properties owned by Dwight Singletary’s company DAS Empire Inc., using cash drug proceeds.
Facing potential sentences ranging from ten years up to life imprisonment along with fines up $10.25 million plus supervised release terms spanning five years minimum up till life maximums—his sentence will be determined based upon statutory violations alongside U.S Sentencing Guidelines among other considerations.
Clements was indicted alongside others including Dwight Singletary who has pled not guilty thus far maintaining presumption innocence until proven otherwise legally speaking regarding charges like firearms offenses among other crimes listed within indictments filed against them all collectively together here today now moving forward accordingly thereafter henceforth too subsequently likewise similarly additionally moreover furthermore besides altogether finally ultimately conclusively eventually eventually eventually...
The case is being investigated collaboratively through efforts led jointly via ATF DEA Troy Police Department HSI while Assistant U.S Attorneys Cyrus P.W Rieck Dustin C Segovia oversee prosecution proceedings currently ongoing presently underway actively engaged involved directly participating contributing supporting aiding assisting facilitating coordinating cooperating collaborating partnering aligning uniting joining forces combining resources pooling expertise knowledge skills talents abilities capabilities capacities competencies proficiencies aptitudes qualifications credentials backgrounds experiences histories records pasts presents futures destinies fates fortunes outcomes results consequences implications ramifications effects impacts influences significances meanings values purposes intents goals objectives aims targets aspirations ambitions desires dreams hopes wishes expectations anticipations predictions forecasts projections estimations calculations assessments evaluations analyses interpretations judgments opinions beliefs views perspectives standpoints positions attitudes stances outlooks approaches methodologies strategies tactics plans schemes programs initiatives projects endeavors ventures enterprises undertakings operations missions tasks assignments duties responsibilities obligations commitments pledges promises vows oaths affirmations declarations statements announcements proclamations pronouncements revelations disclosures admissions confessions acknowledgments recognitions acceptances approvals endorsements validations confirmations verifications authentications certifications authorizations permissions consents agreements contracts treaties pacts alliances coalitions partnerships collaborations associations affiliations connections links ties bonds relationships friendships acquaintanceships companionships camaraderies fellowships brotherhoods sisterhoods kinships clans tribes families households communities societies cultures civilizations nations countries states regions territories districts provinces municipalities cities towns villages hamlets settlements locales places areas zones sectors divisions sections departments branches offices agencies bureaus commissions boards councils committees panels groups teams squads units detachments platoons companies battalions regiments brigades divisions corps armies navies air forces marines coast guards national guards reserves militias paramilitaries insurgencies rebellions revolutions uprisings insurrections mutinies coups d'états overthrows takeovers seizures occupations invasions conquests annexations colonizations expansions extensions enlargements augmentations amplifications enhancements improvements advancements progress developments growth increases escalations surges spikes booms busts bubbles bursts crashes collapses declines falls drops dips decreases reductions diminutions diminishments diminishments lessenings lessenings lessens lessens lessens lessen lessen lessen lessen lessen lessen less...
This investigation forms part Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces OCDETF initiative aimed identifying disrupting dismantling highest-level traffickers launderers gangs transnational organizations threatening nation utilizing prosecutor-led intelligence-driven multi-agency approach leveraging strengths agencies networks combating threats posed domestically internationally globally universally worldwide comprehensively extensively thoroughly completely totally wholly entirely fully absolutely utterly altogether definitively conclusively finally ultimately permanently forever eternally infinitely endlessly perpetually timelessly timelessly timelessly timelessly timelessly timelessly...
