Four Plead Guilty In Marijuana Drug Conspiracy

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 Damarcus Hennings, 25; Shaquata Hennings, 30; Shahana Beaver, 25; and Janice Humphrey, 28, all of Buffalo, N.Y., pleaded guilty for their involvement in a marijuana and money laundering conspiracy before U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford. Demarcus Hennings, Shaquata Hennings, and Shahana Beaver each pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana and face a maximum possible sentence of five years in prison. Demarcus and Shaquata Hennings also each pleaded guilty to additional crimes.  Specifically, Demarcus also pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum of life, which must be served consecutive to any sentence imposed on his drug conviction. While Shaquata also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering, a crime for which she faces up to 20 years in prison. Finally, Janice Humphrey pleaded guilty to maintaining a drug involved premises, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Frank T. Pimentel, who is handling the case, stated that between April 2015, and September 2015, the defendants conspired to ship, receive, and distribute more than 50 packages containing marijuana from Denver, Colorado to Buffalo, New York. The defendants also conspired to send the cash proceeds from resulting marijuana sales back to their marijuana source of supply in Denver.
Charges are pending against two other defendants in this case, Dashawn Abrams and Arthur Clark. The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The guilty pleas are the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge James J. Hunt, New York Field Division.

Defendants Beaver and Humphrey are scheduled to be sentenced on July 11, 2017, before Judge Wolford. Sentencing for Damarcus Hennings and Shaquata Hennings will be scheduled at a later date.