Utica Woman Sentenced to Six Years in Prison for Fentanyl Conspiracy

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Melisa Muminovic, age 26, of Utica, New York, was sentenced today to 72 months’ imprisonment for conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing fentanyl.

The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman, Oneida County District Attorney Todd Carville, New York State Police Acting Superintendent Steven G. James, Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division, John B. Devito, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) New York Field Division, and Chief Mark Williams, Utica Police Department.

As part of her prior guilty plea, Muminovic admitted that between approximately January 2021 and July 2021, she conspired with Jahari Brown, Jr. and others to knowingly and intentionally distribute fentanyl in the Utica area. More specifically, she acknowledged that she agreed to keep bags of fentanyl mixture at her residence and other locations, which she delivered to Brown and others, who in turn sold the fentanyl mixture to customers. Muminovic also admitted that in furtherance of the conspiracy, she accompanied Brown to the New York City area for the purpose of purchasing fentanyl and bringing it back to the Utica area, where it would be packaged for sale.

United States District Judge David N. Hurd also sentenced Muminovic to serve a term of supervised release of 4 years, upon her release from prison.

Five other defendants were charged in the indictment as co-conspirators with Muminovic. All of them pleaded guilty and were previously sentenced as follows:

Jahari Brown, Jr., aka “JB,” aka “Yay,” age 23, of Utica, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, and distribution and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. He was sentenced on April 26, 2023, to serve 216 months (18 years) in federal prison, to be followed by a 5-year term of supervised release and an order of forfeiture totaling $177,874. He also pleaded guilty in Oneida County Court to Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, Attempted Assault in the First Degree, Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, Criminal Possession of a Firearm, and Reckless Endangerment in the First Degree, and was sentenced to serve a total of 18 years in state prison and 5 years of post-release supervision. The Federal and New York State sentences are to be served concurrently. The cases in Oneida County Court were prosecuted by the Oneida County District Attorney's Office.

Kymani K. Minott, aka “Bizz,” aka “K-Bizz,” age 20, of Utica, was sentenced on July 14, 2022, to 60 months’ imprisonment, 4 years’ supervised release, and an order of forfeiture of $2,500. Minott pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute, and distribution of, a mixture and substance containing fentanyl.

Daequon D. Perkins, age 26, of Utica, was sentenced on November 10, 2022 to 27 months’ imprisonment, 4 years’ supervised release, and an order of forfeiture of $2,500. Perkins pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute, and distribution of, a mixture and substance containing fentanyl.

Mark W. Baker, age 45, of Utica, was sentenced on May 18, 2023, to 110 months’ imprisonment, 4 years’ supervised release, and forfeiture of $1,193, three firearms (a .40-caliber pistol, a 12-gauge shotgun, and a 12-caliber shotgun), and assorted rounds of ammunition. Baker pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute, and possession with the intent to distribute, a mixture and substance containing fentanyl, possession of a firearm by a felon, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.

Matthew Brooks, age 37, of Utica, was sentenced on July 25, 2023, to 108 months’ imprisonment, 3 years’ supervised release, and forfeiture of $3,377 and four firearms (a Mossberg .22 caliber rifle, an Armalite M-15 semiautomatic rifle, a Mossberg Maverick 88 12-gauge shotgun, and a Mossberg 500A, 12-gauge shotgun). Brooks pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute a mixture and substance containing fentanyl and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.

New York State Police-Special Investigations Unit (NYSP-SIU) and investigators from the Oneida County District Attorney’s Office investigated this case, with assistance from the City of Utica Police Department, DEA, and ATF. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew J. McCrobie and Richard R. Southwick prosecuted the case.