Press Release, U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross, Western District of New York

ROCHESTER – Ebony Shine, 37, of Rochester, and formerly of Medina, was sentenced to 10 years in prison on Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Charles J. Siragusa.

Shine was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, 400 grams or more of fentanyl,

Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert A. Marangola, who handled the case, stated that Shine was arrested on Nov. 15, 2022, after investigators executed federal search warrants at her residence on Post Avenue in Rochester and several other locations.

During the search of Shine’s residence, approximately $4,506 in U.S. currency, drug paraphernalia, three firearms, and over 100 rounds of ammunition, were recovered. On 12 occasions between October 2021, and November 15, 2022, at locations in Medina and Rochester, Shine sold over 440 grams of fentanyl, 119 grams of cocaine, and a 9mm pistol to an individual working with law enforcement.

Shine supervised the distribution of quantities of fentanyl by her sons and co-conspirators, Emmanual Taylor and Nasir Shine. Taylor and Nasir Shine were previously convicted and are awaiting sentencing.

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach.

The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Orleans County Major Felony Crime Task Force, under the direction of the Orleans County District Attorney’s Office and District Attorney Joseph Cardone, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent- in-Charge Matthew Scarpino, the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank A. Tarentino III, New York Field Division, the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Christopher Bourke, the Medina Police Department, under the direction of Chief Todd Draper, the Niagara County Drug Task Force, under the direction of Sheriff Michael Filicetti, and the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief David Smith.

ALBION – A Medina man who admitted to having fentanyl with the intent to sell it, and also having a load firearm was sentenced to six years in state prison today as well as five years of post-release supervision.

Xavier Hand

Xavier Hand was sentenced by Orleans County Court Judge Sanford Church. Hand pleaded guilty to criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree and criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree.

Church sentenced Hand to the maximum under a plea agreement. He could have faced up to 15 years in prison without the plea if convicted at a trial.

Hand was charged last February and accused of selling and distributing fentanyl pills disguised as prescription oxycodone pills. He also allegedly disguised Xanax bars and high-grade marijuana.

Law enforcement seized 114 fentanyl pills disguised as Oxycodone pills, over 2,000 disguised Xanax bars, over a half of pound of Psilocybin mushrooms, over 14 pounds of high-grade marijuana, over $156,000 in cash, a loaded .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol, scales, numerous packaging material and other drug paraphernalia.

“This defendant is an extensive seller of drugs in our community,” District Attorney Joe Cardone told Judge Church.

Hand kept the drugs at his home and also from a storage unit.

Joanne Best, the public defender, disputed that hand has an extensive record of selling drugs. He has one previous arrest for drug possession.

She said Hand has taken full responsibility for his actions. She asked for a drug treatment o shock program while incarcerated. She said Hand functioned as a mule in the drug sales.

Hand apologized to the community, his friends and family for the crimes. He said he grew up in a broken and lost his father when Hand was 6 years old and his mother when he was 12. Hand said he recently has been baptized and wants to lead a church someday, educating people about the dangers of drugs.

Judge Church said Hand played an active role in the drug sales, and was on probation when committing the crimes.

“I think he was more than a mule,” Church responded to Best.

In another case today, Judge Church sentenced Jennifer T. Sportsman, 48, of Clarendon to two years of probation for criminal possession of stolen property.

Press Release, U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross Western District of New York

BUFFALO – U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Nicholas Laffin, 28, of Rochester was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with production and possession of child pornography. The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison and a maximum of 30 years.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles M. Kruly, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, on December 27, 2023, the Albion Police Department received a report that a man was found in the bedroom of a 13-year-old girl (minor victim), together with the minor victim. The man fled the area but left a cell phone in bedroom.

The minor victim told police that she met the man at the Hoag Library in Albion, and believed him to be approximately 20 years old. A few days later, on December 31, 2023, Laffin was located in Albion near the minor victim’s residence and advised Albion Police that his cell phone had been stolen on December 26, 2023, in Albion.

Laffin was arrested for endangering the welfare of a child. On January 3, 2024, seven items of digital evidence were turned over to the FBI. An initial review of Laffin’s cell phone located in the minor victim’s bedroom recovered multiple images and video files of child pornography involving the minor victim.

The complaint is a result of an investigation by the Albion Police Department, under the direction of Chief David Mogle, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia, and the Tonawanda Police Department, under the direction of Chief James Stauffiger.

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.

ALBION – A Clarendon man, age 50, acknowledged in Orleans County Court today he has struggled to stay out of trouble since he was 16.

Wade Murphy

Wade Murphy said he hopes he can make better decisions. He was sentenced to 3 ½ to 7 years in state prison today by County Court Judge Sanford Church.

Murphy was sentenced for third-degree criminal possession of stolen and also criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree. That time will be served concurrently with a strangulation charge in Genesee County. Murphy was sentenced to six years in prison on that charge.

“I’m too old for this,” Murphy told Judge Church today. “I have some serious crazy issues.”

Murphy said he will go stretches where he makes good decisions, then slips up. He said he would benefit from mental health counseling and drug treatment.

“I don’t know exactly what’s wrong with me but something is wrong,” Murphy said. “I want to do something to change the future and not just repeat the past.”

Murphy was charged after allegedly having a stolen UTV, zero-turn lawn mower, utility trailer, jet ski, and a large tow behind camper. The items have been returned but District Attorney Joe Cardone said a jet ski sustained $5,000 in damages. Murphy agreed to pay restitution when he is released from prison.

In other sentencings today:

Chasity Zinnate, 42, of Medina was stenced to 1 to 3 years in prison for burglary, grand larceny and criminal possession of stolen property. She allegedly stole $8,200 worth of items from a business on Main Street in Medina and attempted to break into another location. As part of her sentencing today, she needs to pay $3,999 in restutition.

Steven Johnson, 22, was sentenced to 1 /2 to 3 years of additional time in state prison for promoting prison contraband at the Orleans Correctional Facility, where he was incarcerated in April 2022 and possessed a sharpened plastic handle with a metal wire. Johnson has been in prison after being convicted of second-degree murder in Queens in 2020.

Cesar Morales, 36, is a former Orleans Correctional inmate who also was sentenced to another 1 ½ to 3 years in state prison for promoting prison contraband. He is in prison for attempted robbery in Suffolk County.

Anthony Disanferdinando

ALBION – A Clarendon man was sentenced to five years in state prison today by Orleans County Court Judge Sanford Church.

Anthony Disanferdinando, 28, of Hindsburg Road pleaded guilty on Oct. 4 to third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and criminal possession of a firearm.

He could have faced six years in state prison. His attorney, David Morabito, asked the judge to sentence Disanferdinando to probation only. Disanferdinando possessed many of the firearms from his stepmother, who gave them to Disanferdinando after his father died.

Disanferdinando said he kept the firearms, including many that were loaded, out of concerns for his safety. He acknowledged he sold and used drugs.

“This is classic example of someone selling drugs to buy drugs to self medicate,” Morabito said.

Disanferdinando needs treatment for drug addiction and mental health, his attorney said.

“He’s not a menace to society,” Morabito said. “He’s not a danger to the community. He just needs rehab.”

District Attorney Joe Cardone said law enforcement seized over 10 ounces of cocaine from Disanferdinando. The Orleans County Major Felony Crimes Task Force also seized a quantity of LSD, a quantity of prescription narcotic pills, THC wax, THC vapes, over 5 pounds of high-grade marijuana, $8,000 in cash, four loaded semi-auto pistols, 24 rifles and shotguns, scales, numerous packaging material and other drug paraphernalia.

Disanferdinando is paralyzed and in a wheelchair due to injuries from a car accident on Dec. 18, 2021. Morabito said the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) is concerned about meeting Disanferdinando’s medical needs and daily care in prison, but DOCCS did not send a letter stating that.

Church declined to adjourn the case to get an official response from DOCCS. He noted the sentencing was set on Oct. 4, three months ago.

Disanferdinando apologized for the crimes, and said he intends to work on his mental health and sobriety.

“I am deeply remorseful for my actions,” he said. “ I acknowledge my actions were wrong.”