Lockport man convicted of drug conspiracy charge

          BUFFALO, N.Y.--U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Torano Spencer, 37, of Lockport, N.Y., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge William M. Skretny to conspiracy to distribute cocaine and cocaine base. The drug conspiracy charge carries a maximum  penalty of 20 years in prison, a $1,000,000 fine, or both.

            Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Catherine Baumgarten, who is handling the case, stated that from June 2009 through August 2010, Spencer sold cocaine and cocaine base he purchased from Eric Williams, to other individuals in the Lockport area. Spencer is one of 19 defendants convicted as a result of this drug trafficking investigation. Williams was previously convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, kilograms of cocaine, and is scheduled to be sentenced on September 10, 2013.

            The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Brian R. Crowell, New York Field Division, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Richard M. Frankel, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James C. Spero, the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, under the direction of Special Agent- in-Charge Toni M. Weirauch, and the Niagara County Drug Enforcement Task Force, under the direction of Sheriff James Votour.

            Sentencing is scheduled for December 3, 2013 at 9:00 a.m. before Judge Skretny.