Prior felon charged again with crack cocaine possession

BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Eli Clark, 36, of North Tonawanda, NY, was charged by criminal complaint with possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine, which carries maximum penalties of 20 years imprisonment, followed by not less than 3 years of supervised release, and a fine up to $1,000,000.

In January 2020, Clark was sentenced on a federal charge of possession with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of crack cocaine. In March 2025, Clark violated his federal supervised release and was sentenced to an additional 12 months in prison. He was released in January 2026. In March 2026, the North Tonawanda Police Department conducted a stop of a vehicle Clark was riding in. During the stop, law enforcement recovered 33 grams of suspected crack cocaine from Clark's waistband. Clark was taken into custody. Law enforcement also executed a search warrant at a River Road residence, seizing several drug paraphernalia items.

Clark made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer and was detained.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey E. Intravatola. The complaint is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan, the Niagara County Sheriff's Office Drug Task Force, under the direction of Sheriff Michael Filicetti, and the North Tonawanda Police Department, under the direction of Chief Keith Glass.

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.

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