Niagara Falls Man Pleads Guilty to Drug and Firearm Charges

Investigators recovered approximately 594 grams of fentanyl, 683 grams of cocaine, and a 9mm semi-automatic handgun. Authorities also conducted controlled purchases of fentanyl.

A Niagara Falls man has pleaded guilty to federal drug and firearm charges following an investigation that uncovered fentanyl, cocaine, and an illegal handgun.

Edward Rollie, 49, entered a guilty plea before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer to possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and being a felon in possession of a firearm. The charges carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life.

According to prosecutors, law enforcement executed search warrants on August 28, 2024, at a residence on Spruce Avenue in Niagara Falls, where Rollie’s son resides. Investigators recovered approximately 594 grams of fentanyl, 683 grams of cocaine, and a 9mm semi-automatic handgun. Authorities also conducted controlled purchases of fentanyl as part of the investigation.

Rollie has a prior felony drug conviction from July 2002 in the Western District of Pennsylvania, which legally prohibits him from possessing a firearm.

The case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation, a multi-agency initiative aimed at disrupting high-level criminal organizations. The investigation involved multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Niagara Falls Police Department, the Niagara County Sheriff’s Department, the North Tonawanda Police Department, the New York State Police, and the Erie County Sheriff’s Department.

A sentencing date has not yet been set.