Lackawanna Man Indicted On Drug Charges

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

BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul Jr. announced today that a federal grand jury has returned a three-count indictment charging Jerry Rolon-Alvarez, 36, of Lackawanna, NY, with possession of cocaine and heroin with intent to distribute and maintaining a drug involved premises. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward H. White, who is handling the case, stated that according to the indictment and a previously filed complaint, in November 2014, a confidential source made a controlled purchase of heroin from Rolon-Alvarez. Prior to the controlled purchase, the defendant was observed departing 47 Colton Avenue in Lackawanna,  and  immediately  after  the  controlled  purchase,  Rolon-Alvarez  was observed returning to the Colton Avenue residence.

On  November  29,  2014,  members  of  the  Lackawanna  and  Buffalo  Police Departments executed a search warrant at 47 Colton Avenue and found Rolon-Alvarez on a bed in the living room. During the search of a cabinet in the kitchen, officers found a large  plastic  bag  containing  suspected  cocaine,  and  two  plastic  wraps  containing suspected heroin. There was also a digital scale with heroin residue and a box containing green glassine envelopes located in Rolon-Alvarez’s jacket. Additionally, $2,280 in U.S. currency was seized from the defendant’s pocket. Rolon-Alvarez was arrested by the Lackawanna Police Department.
 
The defendant will be arraigned on September 3, 2015 before U.S. Magistrate Judge H. Kenneth Schroeder.

The  indictment  is  the  result  of  an  investigation  by  the  Federal  Bureau  of Investigation,  the  Buffalo  Police  Department,  under  the  direction  of  Commissioner Daniel Derenda, and the Lackawanna Police Department, under the direction of Chief James L. Michel.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.