A 24-year-old Burmese citizen named Lay Wah, residing in Buffalo, New York, was sentenced to 120 months in prison on Tuesday in the Western District Federal Court of New York for intent to distribute over 40 grams of fentanyl and facilitating drug trafficking crimes with firearms.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan E. Leydecker, who handled the case, stated that on March 13, 2023, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) along with the Buffalo Police executed a search warrant at Lay Wah’s residence. Special agents entered the apartment with a perimeter established outside. When Lay Wah attempted to flee from the rear of the apartment, an officer outside observed an item being thrown out of the back bedroom window.
Subsequent investigation in a neighboring yard led to the discovery of a semi-automatic handgun with an extended magazine capable of holding 31 rounds and a gun conversion device. Inside Lay Wah’s apartment, investigators also found 888 blue pills, three cell phones, ammunition, drug packaging materials, and $4,540 in cash.
The presence of such a significant quantity of fentanyl, along with the possession of firearms in connection with drug trafficking, raised serious concerns among law enforcement officials. Leydecker emphasized the dangers associated with fentanyl distribution and the heightened risks posed by individuals armed with firearms in criminal activities.
The authorities highlighted the collaborative efforts between federal and local law enforcement agencies in combating drug trafficking and related crimes in the community. The successful operation resulting in the apprehension and conviction of Lay Wah underscored the commitment to enforcing laws to protect the public from the detrimental impacts of drug distribution and associated violence.