Source: Office of United States Attorneys
BUFFALO, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that a federal grand jury has returned a superseding indictment charging Rashaun Crule, 30, of Buffalo, NY, with narcotics conspiracy and distribution of fentanyl resulting in the death, which carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 20 years in prison and a maximum of life.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Evan K. Glaberson, who is handling the case, stated that, according to the superseding indictment, in February 2023, Crule distributed fentanyl to two individuals identified as M.M. and B.Y. in Amherst, NY. The victims believed they were purchasing cocaine, when in reality Crule delivered a bag of pure fentanyl. Both M.M. and B.Y. ingested the fentanyl shortly after receiving it, overdosed immediately, and died as a result. The victims bodies were not discovered for several days. A search of Crule’s cell phone determined that he deleted all messages between himself and one of the victims. In addition, about five months after the deaths of the two victims, Crule joked in a text message with another individual about the strength of the fentanyl that he was selling, responding with laughing emojis to a message suggesting his fentanyl was strong enough to cause overdoses.
At the time, Crule was on probation for a 2022 felony drug conviction in Erie County.
The superseding indictment is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank Tarentino, New York Field Division, and the Amherst Police Department, under the direction of Chief Scott Chamberlin.
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.
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