August 18, 2021
BUFFALO, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Luis Amed Colon Molina, 42, of Rochester, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking activity. The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, and a maximum of life.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles E. Watkins, Jr., who is handling the case, stated according to the complaint, on August 14, 2021, the defendant was encountered at the Peace Bridge Port of Entry after making a wrong tum onto the Peace Bridge. Headed towards Canada initially, Colon Molina apparently realized he was heading towards Canada and turned around coming back through United States Customs. During primary inspection, the defendant stated that he was following his GPS and made a wrong turn onto the bridge. He also stated that he and his wife, who was also in the car, live in Rochester, and were attempting to eat Puerto Rican food in Buffalo. When asked by a Customs and Border Protection officer, Colon Molina stated that did not have any narcotics or weapons.
The CBP office then conducted a random trunk examination and discovered several baggies containing a white powder substance inside a gray fanny pack. The defendant and his wife were then referred for a secondary inspection. Once in customs secondary, Colon Molina stated he was in possession of a pocketknife in the vehicle but again provided a negative declaration for firearms and drugs. During a search of the defendant’s vehicle, the gray fanny pack was removed from the trunk. In addition to the baggies containing a white powder substance, officers also found a digital scale with white powder residue inside the fanny pack. The substance was field tested resulting in a positive presence of cocaine. Officers also recovered a loaded 9mm, Polymer 80 handgun in the vehicle’s glove box. The gun did not have a serial number and is considered a “Ghost Gun.” In addition, a review of Colon Molina’s cellular telephone recovered photographs of what appeared to be various other firearms and narcotics.
The defendant made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer and is being held pending a detention hearing.
The criminal complaint is the result of an investigation by Customs and Border Protection, under the direction of Director of Field Operations Rose Brophy, and Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Kevin Kelly.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
