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Tuesday, February 28, 2017

Federal court: Whitesville man pleads guilty to meth charge


Buffalo, N.Y. – Acting U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Timothy J. Billings, 31, of Whitesville, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo to conspiracy to manufacture, possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine.  The charge carries a minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of 20 years, and a $5,000,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan T. Cullinane, who is handling the case, stated that between January of 2011 and October 25, 2011, the defendant conspired to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine. In order to avoid restriction on the purchase of pseudoephedrine, an important chemical in the methamphetamine manufacturing process, Billings engaged in the practice of “smurfing” (buying small quantities) at local pharmacies.
The conviction is the culmination of an investigation on the part of the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge James J. Hunt, New York Field Division; the New York State Police Community Narcotics Enforcement Team (CNET), under the direction of Lieutenant Kevin Reyes and Major David Krause; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Ashan Benedict, New York Region; the Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force, under the direction of Cattaraugus County Sheriff Timothy Whitcomb; the Wellsville Police Department, under the direction of Chief Timothy O’Grady; U.S. Border Patrol, under the direction of Patrol Agent-in-Charge Steven Oldman; and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, under the direction of Captain Frank Lauricella.
Sentencing is scheduled for June 1, 2017, before Judge Vilardo.