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Press Release

Kingston, NY Man Sentenced on Drug Charges

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of New York
 

         BUFFALO, N.Y.– U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that John Joseph Stasinski, 35, of Kingston, N.Y., who was convicted of importation of MDMA, also known as Ecstasy, and possession with intent to distribute MDMA, was sentenced to 70 months in prison by U.S. District Court Judge Richard J. Arcara.

            Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas S. Duszkiewicz, who handled the case, stated that the defendant was a passenger on a commercial bus that originated in Toronto, Canada and was bound for New York City on October 20, 2011. At the Peace Bridge, the defendant was referred for secondary inspection after law enforcement officers noticed what appeared to be a bulge protruding from his back. During the secondary inspection, officers recovered two duct taped packages, each contained one kilogram of MDMA. The drugs had a street value of $221,300.

            This is the second case this week involving large amounts of synthetic drugs. Earlier this week, eight people were arrested in Rochester and charged with conspiracy to import and distribute significant quantities of Methylone, also known as “Molly.”

            The sentencing is the culmination of an investigation on the part of the Customs and Border Protection, under the direction of Acting Director of Field Operations Randy Howe and the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the Brian R. Crowell, Special Agent in Charge, New York Field Division.

 

Updated December 3, 2014