Cattaraugus Man Sentenced On Marijuana Charge

CONTACT:      Barbara Burns
PHONE:         (716) 843-5817
FAX:            (716) 551-3051

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Joseph Tigano, Sr., 77, who was convicted of manufacturing 50 or more marijuana plants, was sentenced to time served and three years supervised release, by  U.S District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford.    

Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas S. Duszkiewicz, who handled the prosecution of the case, stated that on July 8, 2008, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at a Mill St. factory that belonged to the defendant’s son, Joseph Tigano III. During the search, officers discovered an active hydroponic marijuana grow operation which included 1414 plants. In addition, officers seized 100 pounds of harvested and processed marijuana packaged for sale. The estimated value of the processed marijuana is between $300,000 and $500,000.

Officers also seized three firearms, United States currency, money orders, and savings bonds. Also seized were a 2007 Cadillac Escalade, a 2005 Jeep Cherokee Limited, and a 2007 Haulmark Trailer.

Tigano and his son were arrested on July 8, 2008. Joseph Tigano III was convicted following a jury trial in May 2015 and is awaiting sentencing on August 13, 2015.  
 
The sentencing is the culmination of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of James J. Hunt, Special Agent in Charge, New York Field Division, with the assistance of the Cattaraugus County Sherriff’s Department, under the direction of Sheriff Timothy Whitcomb, and the Southern Tier Regional Task Force, under the direction of Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Sergeant Ronald Lott, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, under the direction of Shantelle P. Kitchen, Special Agent in Charge, New York Field Office, and the Erie County Sheriff’s Department Aviation Unit, under the direction of Timothy Howard.