A long-time member of a violent street gang that sold drugs in Buffalo, New York, has pleaded guilty to two felony charges according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Shawn Woods, aka “Pif”, 28, pled guilty to one count of racketeering conspiracy and one count of possession of 400 grams or more of fentanyl with intent to distribute on December 13.
Woods had been facing a possible sentence of up to life in prison.
The plea agreement
According to the plea agreement, Woods supplied drugs to a co-defendant who apparently supplied street-level distribution amounts to members and associates of the gang.
Law enforcement officers seized a large quantity of fentanyl from his apartment in February 2017 along with drug paraphernalia, guns, and ammunition.
Under the terms of the plea deal, Woods is facing 10 to 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $10,000,000, and 5 years of supervised release.
The government also agreed to drop several other charges pending against him.
Woods is scheduled to be sentenced on April 23, 2020.
He is currently in federal custody.
The CBL/BFL gang
In August 2018, thirteen members and associates of CBL/BFL were indicted on drug trafficking, racketeering, and weapons charges.
CBL/BFL stands for “Cash Been Long”, “Crush Bitches Leave ’em”, “Bag ’em Fuck ’em, Leave ’em”, and “Brothers For Life”, among other things.
Their base of operations is the Towne Gardens Housing Complex on the east side of Buffalo.
According to the indictment, the gang distributed heroin, fentanyl, cocaine, crack cocaine, marijuana, and other controlled substances. They also committed assaults, murders, and robberies, sold guns, and retaliated against witnesses.
CBL/BFL gang members accused of murder
CBL/BFL gang member Dalvon Curry was charged with murder in aid of racketeering for the death of a man named Xavier Wimes. Wimes was shot and killed during a party at Towne Gardens on New Years Eve 2017. Several CBL/BFL gang members allegedly assaulted Wimes and trapped him in an apartment shortly before he was killed.
Curry and co-defendant Larell Watkins were also charged with murder in aid of racketeering for the death of a rival gang member named Jaquan Sullivan in 2015.
Curry and Watkins both pled not guilty.
The CBL/BFL grand jury
According to court records, a grand jury was empaneled to investigate the CBL/BFL gang in May 2018. Two local residents have been accused of lying to the grand jury.
Shanna Smith was indicted in July 2019.
Demetrius Lowry pleaded guilty in October 2019.