Medina man sentenced to 6 years in prison on felony drug charge

ALBION – A Medina man was sentenced to six years in state prison plus three years of post-release supervision.

Demarques “Dutch” Underwood, 34, on Nov. 15 pleaded guilty on Nov. 15 to criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree. He admitted he had cocaine with the intent to sell it.

He was sentenced last week by Orleans County Court Judge Sanford Church. Underwood was charged with a codefendant in October 2023 after police seized over 40 baggies of crack cocaine, $3,400 in cash, scales, numerous packaging material and other drug paraphernalia.

In other cases in County Court:

• Jayah Osby, 24, of Albion was sentenced to a year in prison for criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree.

Osby was charged on Aug. 21 after being searched by Albion police officers who located cocaine, marijuana and distribution bags for sale as well as $600 in cash. There was an active arrest warrant for Osby at the time.

• Vincent McLeod, 26, a former inmate at Orleans Correctional Facility in Albion, was sentenced to 1 ½ to 3 years in prison for attempted promoting prison contraband for having a black ceramic razor blade on Nov. 29, 2022. He is now an inmate at Wallkill Correctional Facility serving an 8-year sentence for first-degree robbery and attempt assault in the first degree.

• David Brege, 37, of Medina, pleaded guilty to attempted criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree, criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree, and driving while ability impaired due to drugs.

Brege was charged in October after having cocaine, a rifle and knife concealed in a flashlight. He faces up to 5 years in prison when he is sentenced.

• Christian Strickland, 25, of Medina was arraigned was arraigned for driving while intoxicated and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle. He was charged on Dec. 21.