United States Drug Enforcement Administration

BUFFALO, N.Y. – DEA New York Division Special Agent in Charge Ray Donovan and U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr., announced that Myles Scales, 27, of Buffalo, N.Y., pleaded guilty before Chief U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr., to possession with intent to distribute butyryl fentanyl. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and a $1,000,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth T. Molisani, who is handling the case, stated that on Nov. 14, 2017, at approximately 6:04 p.m., two Buffalo police officers observed a blue 2013 Dodge Avenger parked in the vicinity of 1310 Broadway for a few minutes and then observed it leave. Approximately 20 minutes later, the officers observed the same vehicle parked again near 1310 Broadway, where it remained for a few minutes before departing again.

The officers followed the vehicle to the intersection of Broadway and Miller Avenue, at which time the defendant jumped out of the front passenger door of the vehicle and shuffled through traffic to the sidewalk. The officers got out of their vehicle and approached Scales who placed his right hand into the pocket of his hoodie. Concerned that the defendant was reaching for a weapon, one the officers took the defendant’s hand and pulled it from the pocket. Scales was clutching a large plastic bundle. The bundle was actually a plastic bag containing nine bundles which contained 81 white and blue-checkered glassine envelopes of suspected controlled substances. Scales was arrested at the scene. Subsequent testing determined that the substance was butyryl fentanyl.

The plea is the result of an investigation by the Buffalo Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration, Buffalo Resident Office, New York Field Division.

Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 15, 2019, at 10:00 a.m. before Judge Geraci.

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