U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross has announced that Cora Waddington, a 25-year-old resident of Falconer, New York, has pleaded guilty to charges related to drug distribution and sex trafficking. The plea was entered before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr., with the charges carrying a potential sentence ranging from a minimum of five years to life imprisonment.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua A. Violanti and Maeve E. Huggins detailed that between October and December 2022, Waddington collaborated with Zaid Mendoza, also known as Diamond, and Kelvin O. Thomas in a sex trafficking operation involving two victims struggling with drug addiction. The group provided shelter at a residence on W. Main Street in Falconer and supplied the victims with essentials such as food and clothing, alongside heroin and fentanyl, in exchange for performing commercial sex acts.
The proceeds from these acts were directed to Mendoza, who then supplied Waddington with various goods including drugs like heroin and methamphetamine. The victims were coerced into performing both "in calls" at the residence and "out calls," with Waddington responsible for transporting them to these external locations. The group utilized the website Skipthegames.com to attract clients for their operation.
Waddington's role extended beyond trafficking; she also held a leadership position in Mendoza’s drug distribution activities, providing drugs not only to the victims but also to other customers associated with Mendoza.
In October 2022, law enforcement apprehended Waddington following a vehicle stop where she was found with an outstanding warrant. Methamphetamine was discovered on her person while fentanyl was found on Mendoza during this incident. A subsequent search of the West Main Street residence on December 7 led to the recovery of cash, drug paraphernalia, a semi-automatic pistol, and several bags containing narcotics.
The investigation involved multiple agencies including the Jamestown Police Department Metro Drug Task Force under Chief Timothy Jackson; Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office County Drug Task Force led by Sheriff James Quattrone; FBI directed by Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia; Homeland Security Investigations under Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan; ATF managed by Special Agent-in-Charge Bryan Miller of New York Field Division; DEA led by Special Agent-in-Charge Frank Tarantino III of New York Field Division; and Town of Ellicott Police Department under Chief William Ohnmeiss Jr.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation aimed at dismantling major criminal organizations through collaborative efforts among various agencies. Additionally, support came from the Western New York Human Trafficking Task Force which employs a victim-centered approach in its investigations.
Sentencing for Waddington is set for May 13, 2025.