Four Time Felon Going Back to Prison On New Drug and Gun Charges

U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross has announced that Ivan Morales, 48, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and being a felon in possession of firearms, was sentenced to serve 120 months in prison by U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra. Jr.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Louis A. Testani and Casey Chalbeck, who handled the case, stated that on October 13, 2022, law enforcment officers executed a search warrant at Morales’s Ideal Street residence and seized suspected marijuana, a digital scale, and approximately $2,546.00 in U.S. currency. They also searched a Shanley Street apartment associated with Morales and seized approximately 1.5 kilograms of cocaine of cocaine, 12 clear bags containing cocaine, suspected MDMA pills, eight firearms, numerous magazines and ammunition, drug paraphernalia, and 250 $100 bills, for a total of $25,000.00 in U.S. currency. In 1998, 2004, 2006, and 2020, Morales was convicted of felonies in state and federal court and is legally prohibited from possessing firearms.

The sentencing is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Scarpino and the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia.