NYC man sentenced to 3 years in prison for selling cocaine in Albion

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 January 2022 at 3:28 pm

ALBION – A New York City man was sentenced today in Orleans County Court to three years in state prison and three years of post-release supervision for selling cocaine in Albion.

Hector Mendez

Hector Mendez, 41, faced multiple drug charges for criminal possession and criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree when he was arrested on Nov. 8, 2020.

He allegedly sold cocaine in Albion on Sept. 24, Oct. 23 and twice on Nov. 8, 2020, working with a woman on West Academy Street in Albion. During a search warrant, 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.

In other cases in County Court today:

Jonathan Jimenez, 23, of Thomas Estates in Clarendon was arraigned for two counts of criminal possession of weapon in the second degree for a loaded firearm, and one count of reckless endangerment in the first degree.

Jimenez was charged on Aug. 17 after exchanging gunfire twice in the Village of Albion with Prince Wilson, 22, on Aug. 8 and Aug. 14.

Jimenez was wounded in the leg on Aug. 14. He pleaded not guilty during court today.

Wilson was due to be arraigned as well this morning but it was rescheduled until Friday morning. Wilson faces charges of criminal use of a firearm in the first degree, two counts of criminal possession of a weapon for a loaded firearm and reckless endangerment in the first degree.

Jimenez has posted bail ($2,500 cash or $5,000 bond) and Wilson also is out on bail ($50,000 cash or $100,000 bond).

District Attorney Joe Cardone said the two men were using “ghost guns” without serial numbers.

“These are extremely serious charges,” Cardone told County Court Judge Sanford Church.

• A Medina resident pleaded guilty to felony driving while intoxicated and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle. Michael R. Coffey, 74, was stopped by State Police in Carlton on Sept. 10, 2021.

He faces up to 364 days in the county jail when he is sentenced on April 27.