Buffalo Man Pleads Guilty To Selling Cocaine

BUFFALO, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Malik Matthews, 22, of Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute, and distributing, cocaine. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and a $1,000,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Meghan E. Leydecker and Paul C. Parisi, who are handling the case, stated that between June 2018 and October 2019, the defendant sold cocaine to an individual over 50 times. In addition, Matthews sold crack cocaine to an undercover police officer. On June 4, 2019, Buffalo Police Officers executed a search warrant at the defendant’s Grey Street residence. During the search they seized three loaded firearms, ammunition, two bags of suspected crack cocaine, five digital scales, a bottle of a cutting agent, and a box of sandwich bags.

The plea is the result of an investigation by the Buffalo police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Byron Lockwood, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Stephen Belongia. 

Sentencing is scheduled for August 11, 2021, before Judge Sinatra.