Erie County Sheriff John C. Garcia reported the arrest of three individuals on January 18, 2023, following a long-term, transnational investigation by the Erie County Sheriff’s Narcotics and Intelligence Unit and its partners.
On January 18, Sheriff’s personnel initiated surveillance of two subjects of the investigation at a suburban hotel and the surveillance of a third subject at the Buffalo Niagara International Airport.
At approximately 5:00 p.m., ECSO personnel observed 48-year-old Timothy Tucker of Inglewood, California, arrive on a flight from Detroit, which originated in Los Angles. Tucker was observed leaving the airport in a vehicle and traveling to a residence in the City of Buffalo.
At approximately 6:30 p.m., Chastity Banks and Loany Gato-Aronategui were observed leaving the hotel and traveling to the Buffalo residence.
About an hour later, Erie County Sheriff’s SWAT Team members made forced entry into the residence and detained Tucker and Gato-Aronategui while Deputies detained Banks following a traffic stop in Buffalo.
Narcotics and Intelligence Unit members, along with members of the Federal Bureau of Investigations Safe Streets Task Force and the Buffalo Police Intelligence Unit, searched the residence and a vehicle. The search recovered thirteen-kilogram bricks of cocaine that were discovered in secret compartments of a Ford Explorer. Officers also recovered one kilo of cocaine in a bucket in the garage.
The individuals were arrested and charged following the search.
Timothy Tucker is charged with a class-A felony count of criminal possession of a controlled substance-8 ounces or more and a class-B felony count of criminal possession of a narcotic with intent to sell.
Banks, 23, of Los Angles, California, is charged with a class-A felony count of criminal possession of a controlled substance-8 ounces or more and a class-B felony count of criminal possession of a narcotic with intent to sell.
Gato-Aronategui, 19, of Henderson, Nevada, is charged with a class-A felony count of criminal possession of a controlled substance-8 ounces or more and a class-B felony count of criminal possession of a narcotic with intent to sell.
All three have been arraigned and held without bail at the Erie County Holding Center.
Erie County District Attorney John Flynn and his office provided prosecutorial guidance throughout the investigation. Erie County Court Judge Kenneth Case signed the search warrants for the residence and vehicle.
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