Two plead guilty in drug trafficking and money laundering conspiracy

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10)-- On Tuesday, two Capital Region residents pleaded guilty to their roles in a conspiracy to distribute drugs and commit money laundering. Lawrence Mumphrey, 45, of Albany, and Niara Banks, 32, of Troy, admitted to being members of an organization that shipped marijuana and THC from Fresno, California, to the Capital Region.

Banks admitted to both receiving packages of marijuana from a shipping store in Fresno, at her home and another home in Albany. She also admitted to laundering the proceeds of drug sales via cashier's checks. $65,880 in drug proceeds was used to purchase seven cashier's checks in varying amounts.

The checks were made payable to Dwight Singletary; a company from which Singletary purchased real estate; and to a person from whom Dwight Singletary and his company, DAS Empire, Inc., purchased real estate.

Mumphrey admitted to receiving packages of marijuana from Fresno to his apartment in Albany and to selling items for the organization. He also admitted to laundering drug proceeds for the organization, purchasing 14 cashier's checks with $132,270 in drug proceeds.

In January 2022 and June 2022, Police executed search warrants of Mumphrey's apartment and a "knock spot" in Troy. At his home, police discovered rifles, a pistol, ammunition and a container filled with eight pounds of marijuana. In the "knock spot" police discovered 29 pounds of marijuana, $3,953 in cash, scales, and a bulletproof vest.

A total of 22 other suspects were also charged in the indictment. Mumphrey's wife, Latrice Mumphrey and Victor Turner previously pleaded guilty to their involvement in May 2023.

Mumphrey faces 10 years to life in prison, a total of $5.75 million in fines and a post-release supervision term of 4 years to life. Banks faces up to 20 years in prison, fines up to $1 million and $500,000, respectively, and a term of post-release supervision term of 3 years to life.