(WNY News Now) – BUFFALO, N.Y. — Rashaun Dix, 38, from Niagara Falls, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara. The charge, announced by U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross, carries a potential maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.
The case, overseen by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stacey Jacovetti, stemmed from a joint investigation in 2021 by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Niagara Falls Police. Authorities began closely monitoring Dix after he was connected to a suspected cocaine distributor in the Niagara Falls area.
According to court records, Dix sought assistance from an associate in March 2022 to convert cocaine into crack, referring to the substance as “nu-nu” and asking for help “cooking” it. The following month, authorities observed Dix as he attempted to arrange a $15,000 drug purchase. Upon meeting with a second individual, both were detained, and law enforcement seized $15,028 in cash from the scene.
During the arrest, Dix reportedly advised his girlfriend to dispose of any drugs at home, instructing her to “put everything in the washer with bleach” and to avoid answering the door. Following this incident, a search warrant executed at Dix’s residence led to the discovery of approximately 355 grams of cocaine, 22 grams of crack cocaine, and a digital scale.
The investigation and subsequent charges were the result of coordinated efforts between the DEA, led by Frank Tarentino of the New York Field Division, and the Niagara Falls Police Department, under Superintendent Nick Ligammari’s direction.
Dix is scheduled for sentencing on March 14, 2025.