(WNY News Now) – Buffalo, N.Y. – Johnny Williams, 32, of North Tonawanda, was sentenced to 168 months in federal prison for his involvement in a large-scale fentanyl and crack cocaine distribution conspiracy. U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo handed down the sentence following Williams’ conviction for conspiracy to possess and distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
According to Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas T. Cooper and Aaron J. Mango, between June and October 2021, Williams conspired with others, including convicted co-conspirator Lairon Graham, to distribute narcotics from multiple residences in Buffalo. These operations centered around locations on Liddell Street and Davey Street, where authorities executed a search warrant in August 2021. During the raid, law enforcement recovered significant quantities of fentanyl and crack cocaine, along with $2,500 in cash and drug paraphernalia.
In addition to drug trafficking, Williams was found to have possessed a firearm on multiple occasions during the conspiracy. Prosecutors highlighted a March 2022 incident in which Williams used a semi-automatic pistol to shoot an individual in the upper arm. The government argued that the shooting was intended to silence a potential informant, though Williams denies this motivation.
Lairon Graham, Williams’ co-conspirator, was previously sentenced to 264 months in prison.
The investigation leading to Williams’ conviction involved several law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, and multiple local police departments in the Buffalo area.
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