Assistant U.S. Attorney Brett A. Harvey, who handled the case, stated that between 2002 and October 2008, Forella was involved in obtaining kilogram and multiple-kilogram quantities of cocaine, as well as large quantities of marijuana, from suppliers in California. The defendant would then have the cocaine and marijuana shipped or transported to the Western District of New York, where he would distribute the drugs to various customers. The conspiracy involved between 15 and 50 kilograms of cocaine and between 700 and 1,000 kilograms of marijuana. During the conspiracy, both Forella and Burkey possessed firearms at their residence in Macedon, New York.
In September 2008, Burkey, acting at the direction of Forella, exchanged small denominations of cash, totaling $72,000, which constituted drug proceeds, for larger denominations at various commercial locations in the Monroe County area. The defendants did so in an effort to reduce the physical size of the cash and, therefore, make it easier to conceal and transport. On September 27, 2008, Forella and Burkey flew to California, and on September 29, 2008, Forella purchased three kilograms of cocaine from a California-based supplier in exchange for the $72,000 in cash. The defendants concealed the cocaine inside a rental vehicle and began to drive back to the Western District of New York. They were stopped by the Nebraska State Police in the vicinity of Seward, Nebraska, where the cocaine was seized.
To date, 12 other defendants have been convicted of federal drug offenses as a result of this investigation.
FBI press release link: click here