News

U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that a federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Earl Stone, 34, of Buffalo, NY, with being a felon in possession of a firearm, which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. 

U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that a federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment charging Aden Ibrahim, 30, of Buffalo, NY, with being a felon in possession of ammunition, possession with intent to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine, and maintaining a drug involved premises, which carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.

BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Eric Hagen, 57, of Fort Erie, Canada, who was convicted of importation of controlled substances, was sentenced to serve 36 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara. 

U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Michael J. Hale, 65, of Lockport, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara to making a materially false statement, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. 

U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Leeladhar H. Tandel, 45, a native of India living of Mobile, AL, who was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, controlled substances, was sentenced to time served (approximately 14 months) by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara. Tandel was then turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement. 

U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that a federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Alexey Aleksandrovich Moskalyuk, 27, of Brooklyn, NY, with production and distribution of child pornography, which carry a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum of 30 years. 

U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that James McClain a/k/a Jungle, 42, of Buffalo, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with possession with the intent to distribute, and distribution of, 40 grams or more of fentanyl, which carries a minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum penalty of 40 years, and a $5,000,000 fine.

U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Koran Leeper, 54, of Jamestown, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life. 

U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Nahtahna Castner, 46, of Dansville, NY, who was convicted of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, was sentenced to serve 48 months in prison pleaded guilty by U.S. District Judge Charles J. Siragusa.

U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that David Garrett, 56, of Buffalo, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with attempting to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine.

The Western District of New York today announced the sentencing of an Oklahoma woman as part of a nationwide enforcement action led by the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division, the Small Business Administration, and the SBA Office of Inspector General targeting fraud in the SBA’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). WDNY was a key participant in this surge effort. 

U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Guy Deland a/k/a Mark a/k/a Security Prime, 68, and Charan Singh, 56, both from Quebec, Canada, pleaded guilty before U.S. District judge Richard J. Arcara to conspiracy to violate the Arms Export Control Act, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a fine of $250,000.