county court

2 plead guilty in shooting death of Medina woman in Lockport

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 6 August 2021 at 7:57 am

Cheyenne Farewell

LOCKPORT – A 17-year-old pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in Niagara County Court on Thursday in the shooting death of a Medina woman on Oct. 17.

The teen admitted to firing eight shots at a garage door in Lockport, where about 100 people were having a Halloween party.

The gunfire caused the death of Cheyenne Farwell, 20, of Medina, and injured five other people including two others from Medina.

The 17-year-old shooter will spend a maximum of 20 years to life in prison. He will be sentenced on Sept. 30, according to the Lockport Union Sun & Journal.

A second defendant who is 16 pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter and could be sentenced to 5 to 25 years in prison. That teen said he had the gun, but didn’t shoot it. With manslaughter, he admitted to “aiding and abetting” the crimes, the Lockport newspaper reported.

The names of the two defendants are being withheld by the media due to their age and provisions of the Raise the Age Law, which in 2017 raised the age of criminal responsibility to 18 years old. However, 16- and 17-year-olds convicted of serious crimes can be sentenced as adults.

Farewell was a Brockport State College student, where she was studying to become a therapist and writer. She was an advocate for mental health. More than 300 people mourned her death at a vigil on Oct. 18, 2020 at State Street Park in Medina.

Farewell’s mother Rochelle Horner posted on Facebook on Thursday that her daughter received justice with the two teens pleading guilty.

She said the one teen who pleaded guilty to manslaughter showed remorse, while the shooter did not.

“There will be no horrific trial where anyone has to relive that awful night,” Horner said in her post. “Cheyenne may have her justice, but her dad and I and her family and friends still don’t have HER. The kids at that party who were shot or witnessed that nightmare will never be fully okay. But today we were given a gift. Thank you to everyone who has showed us support.”

Man arraigned on 13 counts, including attempted murder for attack on Holley police officer

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 August 2021 at 10:33 am

ALBION – A Holley man was arraigned this morning in Orleans County Court on 13 counts, including attempted murder in the second degree.

David Simoni, 32, was charged on June 15 after he allegedly lunged at a Holley police officer, attempting to stab him, when the officer was dispatched to the Holley waterfalls on Frisbee Terrace that evening.

Simoni was allegedly walking around with a knife antagonizing people, Robert Barton, Holley police chief, said on June 16.

An Holley officer approached Simoni, who was sitting on a park bench and did not respond to any of the officer’s questions. The officer then spoke with other individuals in the park to investigate the incident, Barton said.

When the officer returned to Simoni, who was still sitting on the bench, a physical altercation ensued as Simoni lunged at the officer, Barton said. During the altercation, the man attempted to stab the officer with a knife, Barton said.

With the assistance of nearby citizens, the officer was able to disarm Simoni and then the officer utilized his taser to cause the male to disengage. The male was taken into custody without further incident.

Simoni has been in the Orleans County Jail on $50,000 cash bail and $100,000 bond. County Court Judge Sanford Church kept the bail at those levels during today’s arraignment.

Simoni also was arraigned on menacing a police officer, reckless endangerment in the first degree, attempted assault with intent to cause physical injury with a weapon, menacing in the second degree, criminal obstruction of breathing, criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree, criminal mischief with intent to damage property, acting in an injurious manner to a child younger than 17, and resisting arrest.

Simoni is represented by Public Defender Joanne Best. She and District Attorney Joe Cardone both requested a mental health evaluation for Simoni, and Church agreed to order that evaluation.

Music teacher in Parma sentenced to 50 years in prison for producing child pornography

Posted 3 August 2021 at 8:27 pm

Press Release, U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr., Western District of New York

ROCHESTER – U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Philip M. Close, 43, of Rochester, who pleaded guilty to a 74-count indictment, including 61 counts of production of child pornography and 13 counts of possession of material containing child pornography involving prepubescent minors, was sentenced to serve 50 years in prison by U.S. District Judge Charles A. Siragusa.

“As a result of this sentence, this defendant will likely spend most or all of the rest of his life behind bars,” stated U.S. Attorney Kennedy. “Let this case serve as an example to any individual in a position of trust with children—if you seek to exploit children to satisfy your own perverse interests, be prepared to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and potentially to lose your freedom forever.”

Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan K. McGuire, who handled the case, stated that from 2016 to 2019, the defendant owned the Close School of Music on West Ridge Road in the Town of Parma and provided private music lessons to children of all ages.

During that time, Close hid spy cameras throughout the school and secretly recorded the students, parents, and other teachers. Some of those cameras captured videos of the defendant inappropriately touching his students and himself during lessons.

Close also placed two spy cameras in the school’s only bathroom: one under the toilet and one hidden in a watercooler facing the toilet. The defendant intentionally positioned these cameras to record the naked genitals of young girls when they stood up from the toilet. Prior to opening the Close School of Music in 2016, the defendant worked at a different music school. Between 2012 and 2016, he also placed a spy camera in the bathroom of that school and intentionally recorded the naked genitals of young girls when they went to the bathroom.

Between 2012 and 2019, Close produced hundreds of videos of child pornography involving 61 identified minor victims. The youngest victim was four years old. While executing search warrants at the Close School of Music, investigators also discovered 13 devices that contained other images and videos of child pornography.

The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Child Exploitation Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Stephen Belongia; the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Todd Baxter; and the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office, under the direction of District Attorney Sandra Doorley.

Several plead guilty in Orleans County Court

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 July 2021 at 2:43 pm

ALBION – Several people pleaded guilty in Orleans County Court on Wednesday in crimes that included drug possession, driving while intoxicated, sex abuse, grand larceny and promoting prison contraband.

The guilty pleas included:

Michael Russell, 50, of Hamlin who pleaded guilty to sex abuse in the second degree. He admitted to sexual contact with his hand with a girl under age 14 between July 2007 and July 2011.

He faced more serious charges of three counts of first-degree sex abuse, but the victim agreed to reduced charge in the plea agreement that will have Russell spending up to 364 days in the Orleans County Jail. He could also be sentenced to six years of probation and will be required to be registered as a sex offender.

He will be sentenced on Oct. 20.

Jason Kuczynski, 31, a former inmate at the Orleans Correctional Facility pleaded guilty to attempted promoting prison contraband in the first degree for possessing fentanyl in the prison. That is a controlled narcotic and it is against prison rules to have it.

Kuczynski, who is now at the Wyoming Correctional Facility in Attica, faces up to an additional 1 ½ to 3 years in state prison when he is sentenced on Sept. 29.

Jacob Harbaugh, 31, of the Niagara Falls was due to go on trial on Monday. He instead pleaded guilty to grand larceny in the fourth degree and faces up to 1 ½ to 3 years in state prison when he is sentenced on Oct. 13.

He maintained his innocence and entered an Alford plea where he doesn’t admit guilt. But Harbaugh said he was concerned he could be found guilty at trial of more serious burglary and larceny charges.

He is one of three defendants who allegedly stole three dirt bikes from a Ridgeway garage on Oct. 16, 2018. The other two co-defendants have all been sentenced and said Harbaugh was part of the crime, including its planning and then the disposal of the motorcycles, District Attorney Joe Cardone told County Court Judge Sanford Church.

Harbaugh also was stopped by police in Middleport and was in the same vehicle as the other two co-defendants, Cardone said.

The motorcycles were taken from a detached garage on Countyline Road in Ridgeway. Harbaugh was seen at the location of the crime. However, Harbaugh said he didn’t know the codefendants intended to take the motorcycles.

Cardone said two of the flat-track motorcycles have been recovered. Two of the motorcycles are valued at about $5,000 each and the third one is worth about $8,000, Cardone said.

Matthew Daugherty, 26, of Lockport pleaded guilty to criminal possession of controlled substance in the fifth and seventh degrees.

Judge Church accepted him into a treatment court program. He will be on interim probation. If he completes the treatment court in about a year, the felony charge will be removed and he will be sentenced on the misdemeanor and won’t face any time in jail.

Kayla Hodgins, 29, of Medina also pleaded guilty to criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth and seventh degree. She was accepted into the treatment court program. She will be on interim probation. If she completes the treatment court in about a year, the felony charge will be removed and she will be sentenced on the misdemeanor and won’t face time in jail.

Jason Perry, 40, of Albion pleaded guilty to felony driving while intoxicated and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in the first degree. He faces up to 1 1/3 to 4 years in prison when he is sentenced on Sept. 29.

Batavia man acquitted of assault, burglary charges in Orleans County Court

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 July 2021 at 1:19 pm

ALBION — A Batavia man was on trial last month in Orleans County Court and was found not guilty on all charges — first-degree burglary, aggravated criminal contempt in the first degree, and second-degree assault.

Jamie Dutton

Jamie A. Dutton, 29, was charged on Sept. 9, 2020 and accused of entering a woman’s home in violation of a court order and then assaulting her, causing serious injuries including a collapsed lung.

A jury acquitted him of the charges last month in the first jury trial in the county court since the start of the Covid pandemic in early 2020.

Robert Zickl prosecuted the case for the Orleans County District Attorney’s Office and Dutton was represented by Kathleen Casey of Barker.

Dutton still charges of second-degree attempted murder in Genesee County for an alleged stabbing last Aug. 25. Dutton allegedly stabbed a person in the chest. The victim survived after receiving immediate medical attention. Dutton also has been charged with first-degree assault and third-degree criminal possession of a weapon.

Albion man facing federal charges for distribution and possession of child pornography

Posted 8 July 2021 at 4:14 pm

Press Release, U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr., Western District of New York

BUFFALO – U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that a federal grand jury has returned a four-count indictment charging Spencer Hart, 37, of Albion, NY, with three counts of distribution of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. The charges carry a minimum penalty of 15 years in prison, a maximum of 40 years, and a $250,000 fine.

Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey T. Fiut and Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango, who are handling the case, stated that according to the indictment, Hart distributed child pornography on March 17, June 21, and June 22, 2020.

In addition, on July 16, 2020, Hart possessed a hard drive containing an image of child pornography involving a prepubescent minor under the age of 12. The defendant was previously convicted on a state charge involving possession of child pornography.

The defendant was arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy and is being held pending a detention hearing on July 14 at 10 a.m.

The indictment is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Kevin Kelly, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Buffalo and Rochester Offices, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Stephen Belongia.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Akron man pleads guilty to criminally negligent homicide in overdose death

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 7 July 2021 at 1:36 pm

ALBION – An Akron man pleaded guilty in Orleans County Curt today to criminally negligent homicide for his role in a fatal drug overdose of a Medina woman in March 2020.

Anthony V. Abraham, 33, admitted in court to taking the Medina woman to Rochester to get cocaine. He had told the woman’s family they were going out to dinner.

The woman, 26, was recovering from injuries from a serious automobile accident and was staying with her grandmother in Medina while recuperating. She also had some level of brain damage from the auto accident, said District Attorney Joe Cardone.

The cocaine was laced with fentanyl. The Medina woman would suffer a fatal overdose at her grandmother’s home.

Although an unintentional death, Cardone said Abraham clearly facilitated her access to the drugs and the use of the cocaine with fentanyl.

With criminally negligent homicide, a person has a “gross deviation” from the standard level of care by a reasonable person, causing substantial and justifiable risk to another person, said Orleans County Court Judge Sanford Church.

Abraham pleaded guilty and will face a maximum of six months in jail and up to five years on probation when he is sentenced on Sept. 29. If Abraham violates terms of probation, he could be sent to state prison for 1 1/3 to 4 years.

In another case in County Court today, a Batavia man pleaded guilty to attempted criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree.

Johnny Sponaugle, 45, admitted to selling cocaine to an informant from Orleans County on Aug. 5, 2019. Sponaugle said he provided the cocaine while meeting the informant at the Burger King in Batavia.

As part of a plea agreement, he will face a maximum of 2 years in state prison, plus one year of post-release supervision when he is sentenced on Sept. 29. If he went to trial, he risked being found guilty and being sentenced to up to 5 ½ years in prison.

9 facing drug charges in Orleans, including man for criminally negligent homicide after fatal overdose

Staff Reports Posted 13 May 2021 at 8:08 pm

Nine people are facing drug charges in Orleans County, including an Akron man for criminally negligent homicide after a fatal drug overdose.

Anthony V. Abraham

The Orleans County grand jury on Wednesday handed up sealed indictments for 12 individuals following an investigation into the sale and distribution of various controlled substances in the county.

As a result, nine of the 12 warrants were executed by the Orleans County Major Felony Crime Task Force, the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office, the Albion Police Department, the Medina Police Department and the Holley Police Department.

The following were arrested:

Anthony V. Abraham, 33, of Cedar Street, Akron, who was charged with 1 count of criminally negligent homicide, a class E felony, and 1 count of reckless endangerment in the first degree (class d felony).

He was charged as a result of a fatal overdose investigation conducted by the Medina Police Department with the assistance of the Major Felony Crime Task Force.

Cassandra McGuire, 31, of South Clinton Street, Albion, who was charged with 6 counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree, class B felonies, and 6 counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree, also class B felonies.

Johnny Sponaugle, 45, of Liberty Street, Batavia, who was charged with 1 count each of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree and criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree.

Mathew E. Daugherty, 26, of Ontario Street, Lockport, who was charged with 1 count each of criminal sale of a controlled substance in third degree and criminal possession of controlled substance in the third degree.

Heather R. Conley, 32, of Bates Road, Medina, who was charged with 2 counts each of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree and criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree.

Frederick M. Farro Jr., 44, of West Park Street, Albion, who was charged with 1 count each of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the fifth degree and criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree, which are class D felonies.

Gary R. Ettinger, 34, of Hamilton Street, Albion, who was charged with 1 each count of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the fifth degree and criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree.

Thomas R. Brown, 54, of Thomas Street, Holley, who was charged with 1 count each of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the fifth degree and criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree.

Edward P. Symonds, 55, of Oak Orchard River Road, Waterport, who was charged with 2 counts each of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the fifth degree and criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree.

All of the defendants were arraigned in Orleans County Court by County Court Judge Sanford Church.

Farro was committed to the Orleans County Jail on $10,000 cash bail due to his previous criminal history. All others were released due to the state bail reform law. They are to return back to County Court on June 2 for further court proceedings.

This investigation is ongoing and further arrests are pending, the Task Force said in a news release.

The Genesee County Drug Task Force and the Batavia Police Department also assisted in this investigation.

Albion man pleads guilty to reckless endangerment for firing shots at pizzeria

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 April 2021 at 10:30 am

ALBION – An Albion man pleaded guilty in Orleans County Court last week to first-degree reckless endangerment for firing two shots from a rifle on Jan. 2, 2020 at Roadies Pizzeria and Sports Bar on Route 98 in Carlton. One of the rounds was recovered inside the pizzeria and sports bar.

Scott Foley, 53, also pleaded guilty to criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree and driving while intoxicated. He will be sentenced on June 9 and could face a maximum of 4 ½ years in state prison plus two years of post-release supervision.

Foley had rejected previous plea offers and a trial was supposed to start April 21. But Foley agreed to a plea agreement last week.

Foley was at Roadies on Jan. 2, 2020 and was asked to leave by one of the co-owners after a “disturbance,” DA Joe Cardone said in court on Feb. 20, 2020. Foley left and returned, allegedly shooting a rifle from the parking lot.

Cardone, in a previous court appearance, said Foley showed a depraved indifference to human life by firing the rifle twice from his vehicle in the parking lot.

Lockport drug trafficker pleads guilty in federal court

Posted 29 March 2021 at 5:34 pm

Haney was part of trio that allegedly supplied drugs in fatal overdose of Medina man

Press Release, U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. of Western District of New York

BUFFALO – U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Bruno J. Haney, II, 32, of Lockport, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute, and distributing, heroin, fentanyl, and butyryl fentanyl. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and $1 million fine.

Editor’s Note: Haney is part of a trio that allegedly provided the drugs in a fatal overdose of a Medina man in March 2017.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Misha A. Coulson, who is handling the case, stated that between April 2017 and March 2019, the defendant organized and led a drug trafficking organization, which included co-defendants Marissa L. DeCarlo, his girlfriend, who allegedly collected drug money for Haney, and James O. White, whom Haney allegedly supplied with drugs.

On June 16, 2017, the Niagara County Drug Task Force executed a state search warrant at the defendant’s residence on Prospect Street in Lockport. Investigators recovered several bags containing butyryl fentanyl, hydrocodone/acetaminophen and alprazolam pills, $515 in U.S. currency, two packages of black rubber bands, a box of waxed baggies, a digital video recorder, and a digital scale.

On January 18, 2019, Haney was arrested, and a search warrant was executed at a residence at East Avenue in Lockport. During that search, investigators recovered quantities of fentanyl, a mixture of heroin and fentanyl, marijuana, $978 in U.S. currency, a digital scale, numerous tablets, and plastic baggies.

On February 12, 2019, defendant was charged by a criminal complaint, and on February 28, 2019, he was released from custody on various conditions, which included that he not commit any offense in violation of federal, state, or local law. On March 7, 2019, another search warrant was executed at Haney’s residence on Prospect Street, during which a ziplock bag containing a mixture of heroin and fentanyl, $373 in U.S. currency, and a digital scale were recovered.

Charges remain pending against defendants White and DeCarlo. The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

The plea is the result of an investigation by the  Niagara County Drug Task Force and the Niagara County Sheriff’s Department, the Niagara County District Attorney’s Office, the Orleans County Major Felony Crime Task Force, the Orleans County District Attorney’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Lockport Police Department.

Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date.

Orleans schedules first jury trial during pandemic, set to start April 21

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 March 2021 at 11:56 am

Albion man allegedly fired shots at pizzeria in Carlton

ALBION – Orleans County Court has scheduled a jury trial next month, the first during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Scott Foley, 53, faces charges of reckless endangerment in the first degree, criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree.

Last September he rejected a plea offer with a cap of five years in state prison.

He allegedly fired two shots from a rifle on Jan. 2, 2020 at Roadies Pizzeria and Sports Bar on Route 98 in Carlton. One of the rounds was recovered inside the pizzeria and sports bar.

Foley was at Roadies and was asked to leave by one of the co-owners after a “disturbance,” DA Joe Cardone said in court on Feb. 20, 2020. Foley left and returned, allegedly shooting a rifle from the parking lot.

Cardone, in a previous court appearance, said Foley showed a depraved indifference to human life by firing the rifle twice from his vehicle in the parking lot.

In other cases recently in Orleans County Court:

• A Lyndonville man was arraigned on Feb. 10 for one count of aggravated cruelty to animals. Stacy Baker, 44, allegedly beat a 3-month-old pit bull to death last Aug. 10.

• A Buffalo man was arraigned on Feb. 24 for criminal sex act in the third degree and endangering the welfare of a child.

Edward Locks, 58, of Buffalo allegedly had sexual contact with a 16-year-old boy at the KOA campground in Ridgeway last August.

Florida man pleads guilty in credit card scheme that included Orleans County

Posted 24 February 2021 at 3:45 pm

Press Release, United States Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. – Western District of New York

BUFFALO – U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr., announced today that Giosdeivy Duarte Torresilla, 31, of Miami, Florida, pleaded guilty before Chief U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr. to conspiracy to commit bank fraud. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison, and a fine of $1,000,000.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul E. Bonanno, who is handling the case, stated that in January 2017, the defendant traveled with four co-conspirators from Miami, Florida, to Hamburg, NY. Torresilla then provided his co-conspirators with numerous counterfeit access devices, which consisted of gift cards that the defendant had re-encoded with account numbers for actual credit card or debit card accounts at multiple financial institutions, including banks and credit unions.

Torresilla obtained the account numbers unlawfully by “skimming” them from payment terminals at gas station pumps. The co-conspirators used 129 different counterfeit access devices to purchase gift cards at various Walmart stores in Erie, Niagara, and Orleans counties. After purchasing the legitimate Walmart gift cards, the co-conspirators sent the gift card numbers to a co-conspirator in Miami, Florida. The gift cards were worth $120,689.02.

The plea is the result of an investigation by the United States Secret Service, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Acting Thomas A. Braun.

Sentencing is scheduled for May 6 at 3:30 p.m. before Judge Geraci.

3 arraigned in Niagara County Court in connection to death of Medina woman

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 January 2021 at 9:17 pm

Cheyenne Farewell, 20, was shot during a Halloween party in Lockport on Oct. 17

LOCKPORT – Three people were arraigned in Niagara County Court today in the death of a Medina woman and for five others who were wounded at a Halloween party on Oct. 17.

Two adolescents were charged with second-degree murder of Cheyenne Farewell, 20, who was shot at the Halloween party in Lockport. The five other people who were wounded by gun shots include two current Medina High School students.

Two adolescents were arraigned for second-murder, District Attorney Brian Seaman said. The two adolescents also face multiple counts of assault in the first degree, assault in the second degree, reckless endangerment, and criminal possession of a weapon.

Jonathan Frey, an adult, was charged with one count of hindering prosecution in the first degree for his participation in the offenses, Seaman said.

The two adolescents are being held on $500,000 bail. All three defendants remain in custody, Seaman said.

First Assistant District Attorney Doreen Hoffmann and ADA Mary-Jean Bowman are prosecuting the case. The next court date is Feb. 16 for a discovery compliance conference.

Medina man sentenced to 12 ½ years in prison on drug and gun charges

Staff Reports Posted 18 November 2020 at 6:36 pm

BUFFALO – A Medina man was sentenced to 12 ½ years in prison today by a federal judge.

Anthony Allee, 29, was convicted of possessing with intent to distribute, and distributing, cocaine, and unlawful possession of a short-barreled shotgun in furtherance of drug trafficking. Allee was sentenced by U.S. District Judge John J. Sinatra, Jr.

The office of U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. said that Allee and his wife, Tashira, used their Ridge Road residence in Medina to store, sell, and use marijuana, hydrocodone, and cocaine between April 2019 and July 22, 2019.

Anthony Allee also possessed various firearms in furtherance of his drug trafficking in order to protect himself, his drugs, and his drug proceeds, said Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin G. Bish and Jeremiah E. Lenihan.

On July 22, 2019, a state search warrant was executed at the residence. Investigators seized multiple firearms, ammunition, numerous articles of stolen property, approximately 73 grams of marijuana, 247 hydrocodone pills, cocaine residue located on a working digital scale with a razor blade, two additional digital scales, a vacuum sealer with bags, and knotted baggies.

Tashira Allee was previously convicted and sentenced to three years probation and 100 hours of community service.

The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office; Homeland Security Investigations; the Niagara County Drug Task Force; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the New York State Police; and the Orleans County District Attorney’s Office.

2 charged with drug distribution and sales from NYC to Albion

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 November 2020 at 2:59 pm

ALBION – Two people were charged on Sunday after an investigation into the sale and distribution of crack cocaine from New York City to the Village of Albion, the Orleans County Major Felony Crime Task Force reported today.

Hector M. Mendez

The Task Force, the Albion Police Department and the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at 11 West Academy St. in Albion. Albion police K9 handler Nathaniel Staines and his K9 partner Badger also assisted in the search warrant execution.

Police seized over 100 individual bags of crack cocaine packaged for sale with a total weight of approximately two ounces, as well as cash, scales, packaging and other drug paraphernalia.

The following were arrested on felony drug charges:

Hector M. Mendez, 39, of the Bronx was charged with 2 counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree, which are Class B felonies.

Michelle L. Preston

Michelle L. Preston, 54, of 11 West Academy St. Apt. A, Albion was charged with 2 counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree.

The Task Force said further arrests and charges are pending in this investigation.

Preston, due to her previous criminal history, was arraigned in Orleans County Court by County Court Judge Sanford Church and released with her returning back to the Albion Town Court on Nov. 24 at 9 a.m.

Mendez was issued and appearance ticket due to the New York State bail reform and is to appear back to the Albion Town Court on Nov. 18 at 9 a.m., the Task Force said today in anews release.

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