Niagara Falls man pleads guilty to distributing hundreds of packages of pills and illegal narcotics via the mail

BUFFALO, N.Y. -U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Edwin Miguel Batista, 46, of Niagara Falls, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge H. Kenneth Schroeder, Jr. to narcotics conspiracy, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum of 40 years.

According to the plea agreement, in January 2025, the DEA executed search warrants on a vehicle, a storage unit on Fashion Outlets Blvd in Niagara Falls, and a hotel room, which led to the arrests of Batista and a co-conspirator, Victor Miguel Brito Luna. Investigators recovered numerous pills including Oxycodone, Adderall, Hydrocodone, Percocet, Tramadol, Diazepam, Alprazolam, Carisoprodol and Tapentadol, 12 pounds of Ivermectin, a non-controlled substance which does require a prescription, and 16,577 grams of methamphetamine and ketamine, 2,074 grams of methamphetamine, 548 grams of fentanyl and ketamine, and 932 grams of fentanyl. Investigators also seized mailing materials and a cell phone.

The plea agreement further states that Batista received payments from customers who ordered pills via Cash App. He was supplied by an individual in India who mailed bulk parcels to Batista containing various drugs. Co-conspirator, Brito Luna assisted by helping to package up pills for mailing and driving Batista around as he mailed out parcels. Between December 11, 2024, and January 21, 2025, Batista mailed approximately 1,589 parcels.

Charges remain pending against Victor Miguel Brito Luna.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti. The plea is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration Buffalo Office, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Farhana Islam with additional assistance provided by the DEA Chicago Office.

Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date.

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