Three brothers have been charged by federal agents with running a large-scale cocaine and crack cocaine distribution ring in Niagara Falls, and city police say they are seeking a fourth brother in connection with the case.
Randy Knighton, 49; Robert Knighton, 53; and Steven Knighton, 45, have been charged with various violations of federal drug distribution laws, including possession of controlled substances with the intent to distribute and distribution of controlled substances, U. S. Attorney William J. Hochul Jr. announced.
About $41,000 was seized from Steven Knighton’s vehicle after he made arrangements with a confidential informant to purchase two kilograms of cocaine, said Assistant U. S. Attorneys George C. Burgasser and Thomas S. Duszkiewicz, who are handling the case.
With the assistance of the Niagara Falls Emergency Response Team, city detectives on Tuesday morning raided an upper apartment at 1701 LaSalle Ave. and another upper apartment at 1724z 16th St. as part of the case, police said.
Investigators said they seized a number of packages of crack cocaine, a large bag of marijuana, cellphones, scales and a shotgun.
Narcotics Detective Lt. Bryan DalPorto said the brothers “were a large-scale supplier of narcotics in Niagara Falls.”
City detectives said an arrest warrant has been issued for a fourth brother, Raymond Knighton, 43, in the case, and they are trying to find him.
The three brothers already in custody made an initial appearance Tuesday afternoon in federal court and are being held pending bail hearings.
Hochul said the criminal complaints are the culmination of an investigation by special agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Wilbert L. Plummer, acting special agent in charge of the New York Field Division, and Niagara Falls Police detectives, under the direction of Superintendent John Chella.
The joint investigation was led by City of Niagara Falls narcotics Detectives John Faso and Steven Reed and city narcotics/ DEA liaison Detective Christopher Clark.
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