Guyanese cash-jet pilot now charged with drug trafficking

Last Updated on Thursday, 23 July 2015, 17:48 by GxMedia

(DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE).- Guyanese pilot Khamraj Lall, who was caught with more than US$600,000 aboard his private jet while on a technical stop in Puerto Rico in November 2014 has now been charged with cocaine trafficking.

Federal authorities announced on Thursday they have indicted a New Jersey man for his participation in a Rochester-based drug trafficking operation.

Khamraj Lall, a native of Guyana, is charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine and importation of cocaine into the United States.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert A. Marangola, who is handling the case, said that according to the indictment, between December 2013 and February 10, 2015, the defendant conspired to bring more than five kilograms of cocaine from Guyana into the United States.

Lall is a pilot and is accused of transporting the cocaine on his flights from Guyana to the United States.

He was arrested on July 22, 2015 and made an initial appearance in federal court in the District of New Jersey. He is being held until he can make an appearance in federal court here in the Western District of New York.

According to the US Attorney’s office, Lall’s arrest is connected to the arrest of nine other defendants in February 2015. Edward Mighty, Seymour Brown, Andre Taylor, Ricardo Bailey, Robert Wilson, Kenneth Harper, Desmond Bice, and Christopher, all of Rochester, NY, were charged by criminal complaint with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and 280 grams or more of cocaine base, use of a telephone to facilitate drug trafficking distribute marijuana. Defendants Mighty, Brown, Taylor, Wilson, Harper, Bice, and Samuels were also charged with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and conspiracy to possess firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking. In addition, Winifredo Gonzales, of Brooklyn, NY, was charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

According to the complaint, Edward Mighty is one of the leaders of a Rochester-based drug trafficking organization and would obtain kilogram quantities of cocaine from Winifredo Gonzales. The cocaine was transported to Rochester and processed, re-packaged, and distributed in various quantities of both powder and crack cocaine through multiple sellers in the Rochester area.

On February 10, 2015, officers executed a search warrant and arrested Winifredo Gonzales at a residence in Brooklyn. Officers recovered 17 kilograms of cocaine and two handguns, including an UZI 9mm pistol. Officers also seized approximately $70,000 in U.S. currency.

Lall’s indictment is the culmination of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James J. Hunt, New York Field Division, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Delano A. Reid, New York Field Division, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, under the direction of Shantelle P. Kitchen, Special Agent in Charge, New York Field Office, the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief Michael Ciminelli, and the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office, under the direction of Sandra Doorley.