WNY News Now

(WNY News Now) – Buffalo, NY -A 49-year-old resident of Buffalo, NY, admitted guilt to obstruction of justice before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer, facing a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. This plea follows an investigation revealing his role in providing narcotics that led to a fatal overdose.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti, who is handling the case, stated that in June 2019, an individual known to law enforcement contacted Roman Lapp, 49, asking for narcotics. As a result, Lapp obtained heroin/fentanyl/acetyl fentanyl from his supplier, Steven Gonzalez, then delivered the narcotics to the individual’s residence. After using the heroin/fentanyl/acetyl fentanyl, the individual overdosed and died. Lapp was initially interviewed by the Buffalo Police Department, during which he identified the source of the narcotics as someone other than Steven Gonzalez. Lapp reiterated this information during a follow up interview with members of federal law enforcement. Later in the interview however, he admitted that he was not truthful about the identity of the source of the narcotics. Lapp then stated Steven Gonzalez was the actual source and that he lied to protect Gonzalez, among other reasons. Gonzalez was convicted and sentenced to serve 188 months in prison.

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

The plea of the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank Tarantino, New York Field Division, and the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia.

Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date.