(WNY News Now) – A Niagara Falls man linked to gang activity faces federal prison time for his role in a drug distribution conspiracy, including selling fentanyl near public housing.
BUFFALO, N.Y. – Michael Pryor, 27, of Niagara Falls, NY, was sentenced to 36 months in federal prison for his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy and the sale of fentanyl near public housing, according to U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross.
Pryor, identified as a member of the Crips gang, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine and fentanyl, including transactions conducted within 1,000 feet of the Anthony Spallina Towers, a public housing facility in Niagara Falls. Between June and October 2022, Pryor collaborated with co-defendants Shawn Pryor and Cameron Lee, also linked to the gang, to distribute narcotics.
The investigation revealed that the defendants supported each other’s drug operations by supplying cocaine and fentanyl as needed to meet customer demand. Pryor’s activities culminated in an October 7, 2022, sale of fentanyl to an undercover law enforcement officer near Spallina Towers. Additional sales of cocaine, crack cocaine, and fentanyl to undercover agents and informants occurred during the same period.
The conspiracy extended beyond drug sales. On October 16, 2022, Pryor, Shawn Pryor, and another associate assaulted a rival dealer on Ashland Avenue in Niagara Falls, chasing the victim into a convenience store. The victim sustained injuries requiring medical treatment, including a hand laceration and a wrist fracture.
Both Shawn Pryor and Cameron Lee have already been convicted for their roles in the case.
This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF targets high-level criminal organizations through a coordinated, intelligence-driven approach involving multiple law enforcement agencies.
The investigation was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Safe Streets Task Force, Niagara Falls Police Department, and Niagara County Sheriff’s Office.
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