11-Month Undercover Investigation Revels Jamel Graham And Samuel Ellington Allegedly Supplied Cocaine To A Dozen Street-Level Sellers
One Significant Narcotics Distributor Allegedly Operated, In Part, Out Of Four Brothers Tavern In Rochester
ROCHESTER – Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman, the New York State Police (NYSP), and the Rochester Police Department (RPD) today announced first degree narcotics sale and possession, conspiracy to distribute, and other charges against 14 individuals. These individuals are accused of taking part in a drug distribution network that allegedly distributed cocaine throughout the City of Rochester and elsewhere within New York State.
As part of a multi-agency investigation, code-named Operation Thruway, state and local law enforcement agents led by Attorney General Schneiderman’s Organized Crime Task Force (OCTF), NYSP’s Community Narcotics Enforcement Team (CNET), and the RPD conducted an 11-month-long investigation that included undercover operations, hundreds of hours of covert surveillance, and wiretaps.
“Those who deal narcotics in our communities are fueling a vicious cycle of addiction and violence that harms all New Yorkers,” said Attorney General Schneiderman. “Operation Thruway, a joint effort between my office and other state and local law enforcement officials has uncovered what we allege is significant cocaine trafficking ring that was supplying drugs throughout Monroe County and other parts of Western New York.”
"Due to the hard work and cooperation between state and local law enforcement, we have disrupted a major drug trafficking operation and prevented illegal narcotics from making it into our communities,” said New York State Police Superintendent George P. Beach, II. “We will continue this partnership and aggressively target those who bring dangerous drugs and violence in our neighborhoods."
The investigation led to the seizure of A-I felony weight cocaine allegedly taken from a safe located in the residence of Jamel Graham, 37, of Rochester. Pre-packaged baggies of both crack and powdered cocaine were also allegedly recovered from the Graham residence. Graham’s 16-year-old daughter was also allegedly present during the execution of the search warrant. The residence itself revealed an allegedly sophisticated cocaine distribution center, including cutting agents, scales, packaging materials, along with two safes, one of which contained the cocaine.
According to the indictment, Graham and Samuel Ellington, 38, of Rochester, allegedly supplied Lydell “Freeze” Mitchell, 40, of Rochester, with A-I felony weight cocaine that he sold, including to an undercover police officer. This cocaine was being sold as part of an alleged drug pipeline between Monroe, Erie, and Niagara Counties by way of the New York State Thruway system. Upon the commencement of Court-authorized electronic surveillance, investigators were able to work their way up the chain of distribution learning that Mitchell was allegedly being supplied by Robert Grayson, 39, of Rochester. Grayson, in turn, was allegedly being supplied by Ellington and Graham.
Investigators from the OCTF and the NYSP were also able to identify Kevin “Silk” Mills, 45, of Rochester, as an allegedly significant narcotics distributor who sold to customers both inside and outside of Four Brothers Tavern located on the corner of Hudson and Agnes Streets in the Rochester. Mills was observed, on numerous occasions by the OCTF/NYSP surveillance details, allegedly selling cocaine to customers in the parking lot of the bar. While working at the tavern, Mills would allegedly take phone calls from customers and direct them to the parking lot or his residence on Bauman Street. At these locations and others, Mills would allegedly meet with the consumers and sell cocaine in various quantities.
Mills also allegedly directed a team of subordinate dealers who sold and delivered cocaine at his direction. Intercepted communications revealed that Mills allegedly referred to this group as “the team.” The cocaine dealing team allegedly included:
- Justin “Jay” Snowden, 25, of Rochester
- Derrick “Wood” Woodard, 47, of Rochester
- Ricardo Lebron, 38, of Rochester; and
- Lamark “Hank” Nixon, 43, of Rochester.
The evidence revealed that Grayson was a supplying some of the cocaine being sold by Mills and his associates.
The 62-count indictment unsealed in Monroe County Court today charges 14 individuals with crimes including Criminal Sale and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the First and Second Degree and Conspiracy (class A and B felonies), and various counts of Criminal Sale and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substances (class B felonies).
Other defendants charged in the Monroe County indictment for their roles in the trafficking ring include:
- Lateef Budd, 25, of Churchville
- Anthony Hester, 32, of Rochester
- Brandon Owens, 44, of Rochester
- Benjamin Reed, 56, of Rochester
- Jeremy Richardson, 42, of Newark, NY
The investigation was conducted by OCTF Investigator Thomas Fournier, Supervising Investigator Peter J. Talty, Deputy Chief Eugene Black, and NYSP CNET Investigators.
The case is being prosecuted by OCTF Assistant Deputy Attorney General Kevin Kane. Deputy Attorney General Peri Alyse Kadanoff runs the Organized Crime Task Force. The Executive Deputy Attorney General for Criminal Justice is Kelly Donovan.
The charges against the defendants are accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.