Dozens arrested in cannabis distribution ring with orders via FedEx, UPS

Authorities shut down an illegal distribution operation that involved immediate delivery of weed and edibles shipped coast-to-coast via tracked FedEx and UPS orders. Cannabis and edibles were delivered right to customers’ doorsteps or, in some cases, sold through a slot in a door.

The two dozen suspects arrested in the operation face serious charges, including life imprisonment in some cases.

According to a January 31 press release from the US Attorney’s Office, Northern District of New York, 24 people have been arrested in connection with a smuggling operation that used FedEx and UPS to ship cannabis.

Authorities on the receiving end of the orders – in New York state – opened the investigation and say the operation has been going on for about six years.

“As alleged in the 99-count indictment, between at least 2016 and June 2022,” the statement said, “Dwight A. Singletary II, aka ‘Nutt’ and ‘Mike Jones,’ McKenzie Merrialice Coles, aka ‘Kenzie’ and others shipped thousands of pounds of marijuana to locations in the United States, including the New York metropolitan area, from a small mail-order company called Fast Pack & Ship in Fresno, California.”

Customers received an SMS with tracking information and receipts.

The report continued, “The marijuana was shipped in packages delivered by UPS and FedEx, and to allow recipients to receive the packages, Singletary, Coles and others texted receipts with package tracking information to the recipients. Singletary and Coles hail from New York but relocated to Fresno and are said to have operated their marijuana distribution system primarily from California.”

Authorities said in the New York metropolitan area, weed and edibles were being taken to “knock spots” – locations where cannabis was being sold through a slot in a door.

The nicknames of several other high-ranking ring members have been identified: David Singletary; Lawrence Mumphrey; Deandre Caldwell, also known as “Dilli”, “Dillinger” and “Dre”; Rosemary Coles; Niara Banks, a.k.a. “Never”; Jazell Schuler; Toqwanda Ketchmore, also known as “Quannie”; Victor Turner; JuneAllyson Osman, a.k.a. “Juney”; Consanga Harris, also known as “Sondy”; and LaFay Pearson, also known as “Lala”.

Several law enforcement agencies worked together to conduct the operation.

The statement was attributed to US Attorney Carla B. Freedman; John B. DeVito, Special Agent in Charge, New York Field Division, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF); Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge, US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Branch; Chief Daniel DeWolf of the Troy Police Department; and Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent in Charge for the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

The press release explains how proceeds from the sale of cannabis and edibles were allegedly laundered in various ways.

For each defendant, specific minimum and maximum sentences were listed for the most serious charges.

For more serious crimes, the accused face life imprisonment and at least 10 years in prison. The youngest defendant, Alyssa June White, is 29 years old and the oldest, Rosemary Coles, is 70 years old.

The defendants who appeared in court were conditionally released pending trial, but not for Dwight Singletary, David Singletary and Lawrence Mumphrey – whose detention was ordered after hearings before US Judge Daniel J. Stewart earlier this month.

The report states that the ATF, DEA, Troy Police Department, Fresno County Sheriff’s Office and HSI are investigating the case. Assistant US Attorneys Cyrus PW Rieck and Dustin C. Segovia are prosecuting the case.