Several residents sentenced for drug crimes
ALBION – Orleans County Court Judge James Punch sentenced five people to at least a year in county jail or state prison on Monday for various drug crimes.
Joshua Nichols, 26, of Albion was sentenced to a year in jail for selling prescription narcotics. He was arrested on Oct. 1 for selling drugs in Albion with his mother and brother. Police said the three were selling hydrocodone and tramadol pills, which were prescribed to the mother.
Nichols’ mother Theresa Nichols was sentenced on Feb. 24 to 3 ½ years in state prison for selling prescription narcotics. Her son David, 28, was sentenced to three years in state prison on Feb. 10.
Joshua Nichols was charged after a single drug sale. His attorney, Larry Koss, asked the judge for a split sentence, where Nichols could work full-time and spend weekends in jail. But Punch said Nichols has a prior criminal history.
“State prison is not quite appropriate, but it’s close though,” Punch said during sentencing.
An Elba man was sentenced to a year in jail despite his attorney’s request for no jail time.
Edgardo Aponte, 41, of Hundredmark Road pleaded guilty to attempted criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree for selling cocaine in May.
Aponte has no prior criminal history. He apologized to the community and his family for selling drugs.
Punch said Aponte sold the drugs on multiple occasions, and is “responsible for spreading misery in the community.”
Jose Gallegos-Gonzalez, 56, of Hamlin was sentenced to two years in state prison. Last June he was charged with four counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree.
Gallegos-Gonzalez has a prior criminal history with multiple charges for driving while intoxicated, Punch said. Deportation proceedings have started against Gallegos-Gonzalez.
“You’ve been endangering people on the highways with multiple DWIs and now you’re endangering the community with drugs,” Punch said.
Jorge Villanueva-Ledesma, 34, of Zig Zag Road in Albion was sentenced to a year in state prison. Last June he was charged with nine counts of criminal sale and nine counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree.
Through an interpreter, Villanueva-Ledesma said he has struggled with using drugs. He asked for forgiveness.
The judge said Villanueva-Ledesma was “fully involved” in several drug sales, and profiting from the transactions.
Rudolfo Juarez-Ramerez, 30, of Lakeshore Road in Kendall was sentenced to a year in the county jail. He was charged in June with one count of criminal sale and one count of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree.
In another drug case, Punch said he would sentence Alexander Gelo, 22, of Brockport to up to a year and half in state prison.
Gelo in January pleaded guilty to criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree. He was able to withdraw that plea if his sentence exceeded six months in county jail.
Punch said he wouldn’t agree to a six-month sentence. Gelo was arrested after allegedly selling cocaine in Murray on Dec. 1, 2012.
Gelo can either accept the 18-month sentence or face trial. He is scheduled to appear in court at 2:30 p.m. on March 31.
