ALBANY — One of the alleged leaders of a marijuana distribution and money laundering conspiracy once served time in Hudson.
Dwight A. Singletary II, aka “Nutt” and “Mike Jones”, 40, was charged Tuesday with 23 co-defendants with allegedly shipping thousands of kilograms of marijuana from a small shipping store called Fast Pack & Ship in Fresno, California, to locations throughout the country, including the Capital Region, said U.S. Attorney Carla B. Freedman.
Singletary served a sentence in the Hudson Correctional Facility in the early 2000’s following a drug conviction in the Capital Region, according to records from the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision.
As alleged in the 99-count indictment, between 2016 and June 2022, the marijuana was shipped in packages delivered by UPS and FedEx. To enable the buyers to receive the packages, Singletary, McKenzie Coles (a k a “Kenzie”) and others text-messaged receipts with package tracking information. Singletary and Coles are from New York but moved to Fresno and are accused of principally operating their marijuana distribution scheme from California, Freedman said.
Recipients of the packages of marijuana in the Capital Region included, among many others, David Singletary; Lawrence Mumphrey; Deandre Caldwell, aka “Dilli,” “Dillinger,” and “Dre”; Rosemary Coles; Niara Banks, aka “Nie”; Jazell Shuler; Toqwanda Ketchmore, aka “Quannie”; Victor Turner; JuneAllyson Osman, aka “Juney”; Consanga Harris, aka “Sondy”; and LaFay Pearson, aka “Lala.”
Authorities did not include the town of residence on the list of those charged in the case.
In addition to marijuana, Singletary, Coles and the others are also accused of shipping “edibles” containing tetrahydrocannabinols, or THC, from Fast Pack & Ship.
Rosemary Coles, David Singletary, Lawrence Mumphrey and Deandre Caldwell, among others, allegedly sold the edibles in the Capital Region, Freedman said. In the Capital Region, the marijuana and edibles would often be taken to so-called “knock spots,” including on 5th Avenue in Troy, where the marijuana products were sold through a slot in the door, Freedman said.
Search warrants executed throughout the investigation repeatedly resulted in the seizure of firearms and ammunition at “knock spots” and at residences belonging to those who ran the knock spots, including David Singletary, aka “DB,” and Lawrence Mumphrey, aka “L,” both of whom are alleged to have been prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition as previously convicted felons, Freedman said.
The proceeds from the sale of marijuana and edibles were allegedly laundered through a variety of means, including money transfers, transportation and delivery of money, including $179,710 in cash that was seized from Kristle Walker, aka “Demii,” at Albany International Airport, the purchase of cashier’s checks, real estate transactions and cash and money order deposits into various bank accounts, including accounts in the names of Dwight Singletary’s companies, DAS Empire, Inc., and Daddy D’s Boutique, and McKenzie Coles’ company, M.M.M.C. Management, Inc. The real estate transactions included Dwight Singletary’s and Coles’ purchase of two homes in Fresno for $820,000, and the use of hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash marijuana proceeds to renovate properties owned by Dwight Singletary and DAS Empire in the Capital Region. Some of the renovated properties were later sold, including a residence on 5th Avenue in Troy.
As alleged in the indictment, Singletary purchased the home for $9,000 in 2016 and sold it for more than $250,000 in 2020, Freedman said.
The indictment alleges that Lawrence Mumphrey possessed three large-caliber rifles and a handgun in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes, Freedman said. One of the rifles and the handgun did not have serial numbers. Mumphrey also allegedly possessed 79 rounds of ammunition. Deandre Caldwell allegedly possessed a handgun in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes.
The indictment contains allegations seeking the forfeiture of, among other things, seven properties in Fresno and the Capital Region; more than $300,000 in cash and funds seized from bank accounts; several vehicles including a 2021 Mercedes G63 and a 2021 Mercedes S580; more than $500,000 worth of jewelry, including a Patek Philippe watch worth more than $114,000; luxury items including a chinchilla fur vest and firearms and ammunition.