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Operation Family Guy

United States Attorney Kathleen M. Mehltretter of the Western District of New York, Erie County District Attorney, Frank A. Sedita, III, and John P. Gilbride, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Office of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), jointly announce today the unsealing of a Federal Indictment charging Eric J. Humphrey, age 31, of Amherst, New York, along with Charles M. Humphrey, Jr., age 41, James Humphrey, Jr., age 35 and John E. Humphrey, age 39, all of Buffalo, New York and Anthony Taylor, age 48, of Kenmore, New York, with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine and to manufacture, possess with intent to distribute and to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base.

Assistant U.S. Attorney, Thomas S. Duszkiewicz, stated that the conspiracy count carries a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life imprisonment and a $4,000,000 fine upon conviction. Defendants Eric J. Humphrey and Charles M. Humphrey, Jr. are also subject to a monetary forfeiture allegation for proceeds up to $500,000, the forfeiture of each of their high-end vehicles and the forfeiture of Eric Humphrey’s residence and a sports bar owned by him. Defendants, James Humphrey, Jr., John E. Humphrey and Anthony Taylor are also subject to a monetary forfeiture allegation seeking $100,000 in forfeitable property. AUSA Duszkiewicz also indicated the conspiracy involves the distribution of cocaine and cocaine base beginning sometime prior to August of 2009, and continuing up until the date of return of the Indictment. The vehicles utilized by Eric J. Humphrey and Charles M. Humphrey, Jr. have been seized and named in the Indictment and have been used to facilitate drug distribution activities.

All of the defendants are scheduled to be arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge Hugh B. Scott on February 2, 2010. This investigation is the result wire tap orders obtained by District Attorney Frank Sedita’s office, from New York State Supreme Court and reflect the significant cooperation between federal and state law enforcement and prosecutive agencies.

The Indictment was a culmination of investigation on the part of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge, John P. Gilbride, in cooperation with the City of Buffalo Police Department under the direction of Acting Commissioner, Daniel Derenda and the Erie County District Attorney’s Office under the direction of District Attorney, Frank A. Sedita, with the assistance of Town of Amherst Police Department and the FBI Safe Streets Task Force.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.