Buffalo Man Going To Prison For More Than 21 Years For His Role In A Gun Trafficking Conspiracy That Brought More Than 100 Illegal Guns To The Streets Of Buffalo

CONTACT: Barbara Burns

PHONE: (716) 843-5817

FAX #: (716) 551-3051

BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Titus Thompson, Jr., 38, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted following a federal jury trial of conspiracy to traffic firearms from Ohio to Buffalo, unlawful dealing in firearms, being a felon in possession of firearms, and maintaining a drug involved premises, was sentenced to serve 262 months in prison by Chief U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford.

'During my tenure as U.S. Attorney, this Office, together with our partners in federal, state, and local law enforcement, has worked tirelessly to keep our community safe by consistently and aggressively targeting not only those who use guns to commit crimes but also those who flood our streets with these illegal guns,' stated U.S. Attorney Kennedy. 'Not only did this defendant illegally obtain guns, but he also served as an accomplice to all of those who used the illegal guns he provided to commit crimes. As such, he deserves every second of the lengthy sentence imposed by Chief Judge Wolford.'

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti, who handled the case, stated that during the course of the conspiracy, co-defendant Deonte Cooper, who also sold heroin, recruited heroin customers to make straw purchases of more than 100 firearms. The purchases were made at gun shows and gun stores in Ohio. The firearms were then transported to Buffalo, where they were sold to local drug dealers, including Titus Thompson.

On May 18, 2018, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Explosives, and the Buffalo Police Department executed a search warrant at 89 Parkridge Avenue in Buffalo in the upper and lower apartments which were utilized by Titus Thompson. During the search, agents recovered a .40 caliber pistol and a 9mm pistol in the upper apartment as well as several firearms in the lower apartment. Thompson has two previous felony convictions and was legally prohibited from possessing firearms.

Deonte Cooper was also convicted at trial and sentenced to serve 60 months in prison.

The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge John B. Devito, New York Field Division and the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Byron Lockwood.

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