Buffalo man going to prison for his role in a drug trafficking organization and failing to appear in court

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Omar Vazquez-Baez, a/k/a Tutu, 33, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and distribution of, five kilograms or more of cocaine, was sentenced to serve a total of 146 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo. Vazquez-Baez received 120 months for his drug conviction and 46 months for failing to appear in court for his original sentencing.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy C. Lynch, who handled the case, stated that between July 2017 and September 29, 2017, Vazquez-Baez conspired with others to distribute cocaine in the Niagara Falls area for a drug trafficking organization led by co-defendant Cesar Rivera-Figueroa. Vazquez-Baez regularly distributed quantities of cocaine to customers on behalf of the Rivera-Figueroa organization.

On September 13, 2017, investigators intercepted a phone call between Rivera-Figueroa and Vazquez-Baez. During the call, Rivera-Figueroa told Vazquez-Baez, "I have some lockers for you to take a look at. I already gave six, but for you to see them and offer them around. . . .I'm like a display cabinet right now." Vazquez-Baez then met with Rivera-Figueroa and collected several packaged quantities of cocaine. Later that day, Vazquez-Baez called Rivera-Figueroa looking for more cocaine but Rivera-Figueroa indicated he was out of supply. On September 29, 2017, during the execution of a search warrant at Vazquez-Baez's residence, investigators recovered a firearm and ammunition, multiple quantities of cocaine and marijuana, drug paraphernalia, and numerous cell phones.

The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Philip Tejera, the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Farhana Islam, New York Field Division, the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Acting Commissioner Craig Macy, and the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Amie Feroleto.

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