3 plead guilty to drug crimes and could get state prison

ALBION – A Batavia man admitted to selling cocaine in Orleans County on March 31 and could face up to 9 years in state prison.

Philip R. Ayala, 30, of Summit Street pleaded guilty on Monday to criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree. As a second felony offender, he could have faced a sentence of 2 to 12 years in state prison.

As part of a plea deal in Orleans County Court, Ayala would face no more than 9 years in state prison, plus up to three years of post-release supervision.

Ayala also faces drug charges in Genesee County. As part of the plea deal in Orleans County, he would serve a concurrent sentence for both charges in Orleans and Genesee counties.

Ayala was sentenced to 8 years in state prison last month by Genesee County Court Judge Robert C. Noonan.

Ayala will be sentenced in Orleans County on Dec. 21.

In other drug cases on Monday:

A Hamlin man admitted he sold cocaine in Monroe County and Holley in transactions arranged with a confidential informant in Orleans County.

Joel E. Johnson, 31, of Fox Hollow Street pleaded guilty to attempted criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree, a charge that normally carries a sentence up to 5 1/2 years in state prison.

However, as part of a plea deal the sentence will be capped at no more than 4 years, plus up 1 to 2 years of post-release supervision.

Johnson will be sentenced on Nov. 23.

An Albion man admitted to selling marijuana in excess of 25 grams on May 28.

Charles A. Santiago, 27, of 214 North Main St. pleaded guilty to third-degree criminal sale of marijuana. District Attorney Joe Cardone said the marijuana sold by Santiago weighed 27.55 grams at a Niagara County lab.

Santiago accepted a plea deal that calls for a maximum sentence of 1 ½ years in state prison. He is a first-time felony offender.

He will be sentenced on Nov. 23.