Two dozen charged in cross-country distribution ring

The U.S. Attorney’s Office confirmed 24 defendants have been charged with marijuana distribution, money laundering, firearms, and related offenses in an indictment returned last month.

The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; John B. DeVito, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF); Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division; Chief Daniel DeWolf of the Troy Police Department; and Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

As alleged in the 99-count indictment, between at least 2016 and June 2022, Dwight A. Singletary II, aka “Nutt” and “Mike Jones,” McKenzie Merrialice Coles, aka “Kenzie,” and others shipped thousands of kilograms of marijuana from a small shipping store called Fast Pack & Ship in Fresno, California, to locations throughout the United States, including the Capital Region of New York. The marijuana was shipped in packages delivered by UPS and FedEx, and to enable the recipients to receive the packages, Singletary, Coles, and others text messaged receipts with package tracking information to the recipients. Singletary and Coles are from New York but moved to Fresno and, as alleged, principally operated their marijuana distribution scheme from California.

Recipients of the packages of marijuana in the Capital Region included, among many others, David Singletary; Lawrence Mumphrey; Deandre Caldwell, aka “Dilli,” “Dillinger,” and “Dre”; Rosemary Coles; Niara Banks, aka “Nie”; Jazell Shuler; Toqwanda Ketchmore, aka “Quannie”; Victor Turner; JuneAllyson Osman, aka “Juney”; Consanga Harris, aka “Sondy”; and LaFay Pearson, aka “Lala.”

In addition to marijuana, Singletary, Coles, and others also shipped “edibles” containing tetrahydrocannabinols, or THC, from Fast Pack & Ship. Rosemary Coles, David Singletary, Lawrence Mumphrey, and Deandre Caldwell, among others, allegedly sold the edibles in the Capital Region. In the Capital Region, the marijuana and edibles would often be taken to socalled “knock spots,” including on 5th Avenue in Troy, where the marijuana products were sold through a slot in the door. Search warrants executed throughout the investigation repeatedly resulted in the seizure of firearms and ammunition at “knock spots” and at residences belonging to those who ran the knock spots, including David Singletary, aka “DB,” and Lawrence Mumphrey, aka “L,” both of whom are alleged to have been prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition as previously convicted felons.

The proceeds from the sale of marijuana and edibles were allegedly laundered through a variety of means, including money transfers; the transportation and delivery of cash, including $179,710 in cash that was seized from Kristle Walker, aka “Demii” at the Albany International Airport; the purchase of cashier’s checks; real estate transactions; and cash and money order deposits into various bank accounts, including accounts in the names of Dwight Singletary’s companies, DAS Empire, Inc. and Daddy D’s Boutique, and McKenzie Coles’ company, M.M.M.C. Management, Inc. The real estate transactions included Dwight Singletary’s and Coles’ purchase of two residences in Fresno for $820,000, and the use of hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash marijuana proceeds to renovate properties owned by Dwight Singletary and DAS Empire in the Capital Region. Some of the renovated properties were later sold, including a residence on 5th Avenue in Troy. As alleged in the indictment, Singletary purchased the residence for $9,000 in 2016 and sold it for more than $250,000 in 2020.

The indictment alleges that Mumphrey possessed three large-caliber rifles and a handgun in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes. One of the rifles and the handgun did not have serial numbers; Mumphrey also allegedly possessed 79 rounds of ammunition. Deandre Caldwell also allegedly possessed a handgun in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes.

The indictment contains forfeiture allegations seeking the forfeiture of, among other things, seven properties in Fresno and the Capital Region; over $300,000 in cash and funds seized from bank accounts; several vehicles, including a 2021 Mercedes G63 and a 2021 Mercedes S580; over $500,000 worth of jewelry, including a Patek Philippe watch worth over $114,000; luxury items, including a chinchilla fur vest; and firearms and ammunition. The charges in the indictment are merely accusations. Each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The indictment is unsealed as to the following 17 defendants, who are charged with the following crimes and face the following minimum and maximum terms of imprisonment on the most serious counts.

The defendants who have appeared in court have been released with conditions pending trial, except for Dwight Singletary, David Singletary, and Mumphrey, who were ordered detained following detention hearings earlier this month before United States Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Stewart.

The ATF, DEA, Troy Police Department, Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, and HSI are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cyrus P.W. Rieck and Dustin C. Segovia are prosecuting the case.