Final Defendant Pleads Guilty in Nationwide Marijuana Trafficking and Money Laundering Network
The final defendant in a nationwide marijuana and THC trafficking organization has pleaded guilty, closing a federal case involving 25 defendants and the laundering of millions of dollars in drug proceeds.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York said Dwight A. Singletary II, 44, also known as “Nutt” and “Mike Jones,” pleaded guilty on August 25, 2026, to leading the organization. The network shipped marijuana and THC from Fresno, California, to destinations across the United States, including New York’s Capital Region.
More than 15,000 pounds shipped to the Capital Region
According to federal prosecutors, members of the organization used Fast Pack & Ship in Fresno to send marijuana through UPS and FedEx using fake shipper names. Drugs were concealed in dog-food containers and luggage, and packages were sometimes sealed with eBay-branded packing tape to reduce suspicion.
Between April 2017 and June 2022, approximately 1,292 packages containing 7,068 kilograms, or 15,582 pounds, of marijuana were shipped from the store to the Capital Region alone. Members of the organization also operated “knock spots,” where customers exchanged cash for marijuana and THC products through slots in doors.
Searches conducted in 2022 and 2023 recovered large quantities of marijuana, cash, firearms and luxury property. At two Fresno properties associated with Singletary and McKenzie Merrialice Coles, authorities seized approximately 118 kilograms of marijuana from a storage and packaging house and more than $1.2 million in watches, jewelry, designer bags, belts and shoes from an adjacent residence.
Cash couriers, business accounts and real estate
Federal authorities said the organization laundered millions of dollars in drug proceeds through cash couriers, cashier’s checks, business accounts, real estate and luxury assets.
Members allegedly carried locked suitcases containing more than $150,000 in cash from Albany to Fresno. In July 2020, one courier was stopped while attempting to board a flight carrying $179,710 in cash drug proceeds.
Prosecutors also said Singletary used marijuana proceeds to purchase and renovate real estate. In 2021, Singletary and Coles allegedly used $430,000 and $390,000 in marijuana proceeds to buy two Fresno properties, with purchase prices funded in part through cashier’s checks bought with cash proceeds.
To make drug proceeds appear to be legitimate business income, members allegedly deposited hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash into business accounts, including accounts in the name of M.M.M.C. Management. At Singletary’s direction, members also sent more than $103,000 in money transfers purchased with cash marijuana proceeds to recipients in the Fresno area.
Singletary is the 25th and final defendant to plead guilty in the case. The investigation involved the DEA, HSI, ATF and local law-enforcement partners. Sentencing details were not included in the August 26 announcement.
