Barker man who fled Orleans law enforcement pleads guilty in federal court to distributing methylone

Press Release, U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul Jr.

BUFFALO – U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul Jr. announced today that Allen M. Young, 39, of Barker pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methylone. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a $2 million fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Frank T. Pimentel, who is handling the case, stated that between October 21, 2011, and December 13, 2012, the defendant conspired with Peter Viera to obtain methylone from China, which Young then distributed.

On December 13, 2012, while members of the Orleans County Major Felony Crime Task Force were attempting to execute a search warrant on Young and his car, he fled at a high rate of speed before crashing the car in Ridgeway.

Young fled the scene on foot. Nine rounds of .50 caliber ammunition were found in the car. As he fled, the defendant discarded a backpack near the scene of the crash which contained 1.8 pounds of methylone and just over one pound of marijuana.

Young was subsequently arrested in Erie, Pa. on Feb. 14, 2013, and has been in custody ever since. On April 5, 2013, officers executed a search warrant at his residence and seized seven firearms belonging to the defendant.

Peter Viera has also been convicted and will be sentenced on May 5, 2016.

The plea is the result of an investigation on the part of the Orleans County Major Felony Crime Task Force, under the direction of District Attorney Joseph V. Cardone and Sheriff Randall Bower, and the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of James J. Hunt, Special Agent in Charge, New York Field Division.

Sentencing is scheduled for June 17, 2016, at 10:30 a.m. before Chief U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr.