Woman who controlled crack trade in NY neighborhood, employed own kids faces sentencing

These homes on Deshler Street in Buffalo, N.Y. are among five houses on the street that were owned by Theresa Anderson and used in her drug trafficking business. Anderson, 58, faces 14 to 17 1/2 years in prison when she is sentenced Oct. 8 for running a 12-year operation that monopolized crack cocaine sales in the area and employed her grown children and close acquaintances. (AP Photo/Carolyn Thompson) (The Associated Press)

This photo provided by the U.S. Attorney's Office, via The Buffalo News shows Theresa Anderson. Anderson, 58, faces 14 to 17 1/2 years in prison when she is sentenced Oct. 8 for running a 12-year operation that monopolized crack cocaine sales in her neighborhood. Police say she sold drugs from numerous homes she owned and employed her grown children and close acquaintances. (AP Photo/U.S. Attorney's Office, via The Buffalo News) (The Associated Press)

BUFFALO, N.Y. – A woman who controlled the crack cocaine trade in her western New York neighborhood and employed her own children and granddaughter faces sentencing this week.

Buffalo resident Theresa Anderson pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy in June. Under the plea agreement, she faces 14 to 17 1/2 years in prison when she appears in federal court Tuesday.

The 58-year-old also will forfeit $52,000 and 10 houses she owns.

Authorities say Anderson led a drug operation for a dozen years in her neighborhood by buying up property, employing relatives and close acquaintances, and paying lookouts to watch for police.

Some neighbors say it feels less safe with Anderson and her lookouts gone and her houses abandoned. But authorities say Anderson's nonthreatening persona is part of what made her such an insidious criminal.