Buffalo Man Pleads Guilty To Cocaine Charge

CONTACT:      Barbara Burns
PHONE:         (716) 843-5817
FAX:            (716) 551-3051

BUFFALO, N.Y. - Acting U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Hayward Tarver, 38, of Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of crack cocaine, before U.S. District Judge William M. Skretny.  The charges carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum penalty of 40 years, and a $5,000,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel L. Violanti, who is handling the case, stated that on September 27, 2013, Buffalo Police and the Drug Enforcement Administration executed a search warrant at the defendant’s residence at 66 Connelly Avenue in Buffalo. During the search, officers recovered approximately 166 grams of crack cocaine, $6,000 in U.S. currency, a digital scale, and packaging materials used to distribute the cocaine.

The plea is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Agency, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge James J. Hunt, New York Field Division, and the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Daniel Derenda. 

Sentencing is scheduled for November 15, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. before Judge Skretny.