Buffalo man convicted of drug deal that led to woman’s death

Darryl Sweat, 33, pleaded guilty to distribution of cocaine, fentanyl and parafluorofentanyl.

Sweat admitted to selling the drugs for $50 on the evening of April 18, 2022 to a woman who was a regular customer. The woman, identified in court documents as VO, was found dead in her home two days later by law enforcement and emergency responders.

An autopsy found the woman died of “acute multidrug intoxication,” including cocaine, fentanyl, parafluorofentanyl and tramadol.

Investigators conducted a sting operation by sending a text message to Sweat a month later using the same phone number VO used the night she contacted him and asking him to buy drugs from Sweat .

Sweat then met with an undercover agent and sold 1 gram of the drug for $90, according to court documents. A forensic drug test showed Sweat was selling a mixture of cocaine, fentanyl and parafluorofentanyl. A second sale of $90 for 1 gram of cocaine occurred on May 26, 2022 and tests determined the substance contained fentanyl.

Sweat faces a maximum of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine when he is sentenced Oct. 18 before U.S. District Court Judge Richard J. Arcara.