(WNY News Now) – Buffalo, NY—Nader Ngoopos, a 25-year-old Buffalo resident known as “Nike,” pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to a series of serious drug and firearm offenses.
In a plea deal before Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr., Ngoopos admitted to conspiracy charges involving the distribution of over 500 grams of cocaine and 100 grams of heroin. He also faced charges for possession of a firearm in connection with violent crimes and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. These offenses carry severe penalties, including a mandatory minimum of five years in prison, with the potential for a life sentence and fines up to $5 million.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Evan K. Glaberson detailed the timeline of Ngoopos’s criminal activities, stating that from 2016 to late 2018, he collaborated with others to obtain and distribute cocaine and heroin in Buffalo and Olean, NY. Ngoopos regularly traveled to Olean, selling drugs from various locations, including North 8th Street and South 11th Street, with co-conspirators also engaging in weekly sales.
The case took a darker turn on October 15, 2018, when Ngoopos participated in an armed robbery at St. Bonaventure University in Olean. Accompanied by two accomplices, he broke into a dormitory room while armed, threatening occupants and stealing about an ounce of marijuana and $300 to $400 in cash.
Law enforcement further intensified their scrutiny of Ngoopos when, on September 2, 2021, he was spotted entering a vehicle in Buffalo. When officers attempted to stop him, he led them on a high-speed chase, which ended on East Amherst Street. As he fled the vehicle, he discarded a firearm. Ngoopos had a prior felony conviction in June 2020 in Cattaraugus County Court, rendering him legally prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition.
This plea agreement is the culmination of an extensive investigation involving multiple law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, Olean Police Department, Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Office, Buffalo Police Department, and Erie County Sheriff’s Office.
Sentencing for Ngoopos is scheduled for February 21, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. before Judge Sinatra.
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