News

U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that four defendants were charged in separate criminal complaints with illegal re-entry, which carries a maximum penalty of two years in prison and a fine of $250,000. 

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) and U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo for the Western District of New York announced today that Wei Qiang Lin, of Brooklyn, NY, was sentenced to serve 24 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo for falsely labeling live turtles, snakes, and lizards as fake toys prior to exporting them in delivery boxes destined to Hong Kong. Lin was also fined $2,339, which is how much U.S. currency he had on him when he was arrested.

U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Jorge Luis Gonzalez-Roman, 39, And Jose Clemente Trujillo-Mejia, 42, both natives and citizens of Mexico, were arrested and charged by criminal complaint with illegal re-entry, which carries a maximum penalty of two years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Arlen Saul Castillo, 29, and Jonathan Esteban Osario Lopez, 32, both natives and citizens of Honduras, pleaded guilty before Chief U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford to illegal re-entry. They were then sentenced to time served and turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Cross Abu Cole, 21, a citizen of Ghana, who was convicted of interstate communications with intent to extort, was sentenced to time served (approximately seven months) by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo and turned over to the Department of Homeland Security.

U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Houssam El-Atat, 44, of Montreal, Canada, was extradited from Spain, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo to money laundering conspiracy, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $500,000 fine.

U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Ruben Medina, 20, of Jamestown, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy to possession with intent to distribute five grams or more methamphetamine, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of 40 years, and a fine of $5,000,000.

U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Lamor Runell Bolden, 27, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of conspiracy to commit mail theft, was sentenced to serve two years’ probation to include six months home detention by U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr.

U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Ma Le Jones, 37, of Lockport, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, which carry a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of life, and $1,000,000.

U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Anthony Burris, 35, of Ellicottville, NY, who was convicted of two counts of enticing travel to engage in sexual activity, was sentenced to serve 90 months in prison by Senior U.S. District Judge William M. Skretny.

U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Gilberto Alarcon-Holguin a/k/a Beto, 57, a Mexican national, who was convicted of  conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, five kilograms or more of cocaine, and conspiracy to commit money laundering, was sentenced to serve 168 months in prison by U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr.

U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Joseph Hudson, III, 26, of Williamson, NY, who was convicted of possession of child pornography following a previous conviction for the sexual abuse of a minor, was sentenced to serve 156 months in prison and 15 years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Charles J. Siragusa.